Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 5,126	$ 15,939
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	10,594	14,659
Stock-based compensation expense	9,159	5,429
Deferred income taxes		45
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(276)	427
Other long-term liabilities	2,381	3,494
Other non-cash items	(2,227)	(427)
Changes in other components of working capital	(27,081)	(80,696)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(2,324)	(41,130)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding certain financed purchases	(5,691)	(8,352)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	798	1,417
Change in restricted cash	277	(675)
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(4,616)	(7,610)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	280,200	178,038
Repayment of debt	(262,112)	(113,551)
Business acquisition related payments		(1,031)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(773)	(1,575)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	17,315	61,881
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	10,375	13,141
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	135,583	119,923
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	145,958	133,064
Eliminations [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(11,940)	(15,281)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	11,940	15,281
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	57,146
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	57,146
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(57,146)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(57,146)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	5,126	15,939
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	5,223	1,780
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(11,940)	(15,281)
Stock-based compensation expense	9,159	5,316
Deferred income taxes	(24,392)	4,624
(Gain) loss on sale of investments	(17)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	17	427
Other long-term liabilities	(1,288)	2,886
Other non-cash items	1,176	855
Changes in other components of working capital	(73,266)	(48,652)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(90,202)	(32,106)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding certain financed purchases	(729)	(4,041)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		(427)
Change in restricted cash		15,465
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(729)	10,997
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	280,200	250,656
Repayment of debt	(252,748)	(179,032)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(773)	(1,575)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	61,103	(63,312)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	87,782	6,737
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(3,149)	(14,372)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	75,087	88,995
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	71,938	74,623
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member] | Reportable Legal Entity [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	5,126	15,939
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(11,940)	(15,281)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	9,482	11,619
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	5,303	12,947
Stock-based compensation expense		113
Deferred income taxes	24,392	(4,579)
(Gain) loss on sale of investments	17
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(293)
Other long-term liabilities	3,669	608
Other non-cash items	(3,403)	(1,282)
Changes in other components of working capital	43,701	(37,991)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	82,868	(18,565)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding certain financed purchases	(4,962)	(4,311)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	798	1,844
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(57,146)
Change in restricted cash	283	(664)
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(61,027)	(3,131)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt		(72,618)
Repayment of debt	(9,364)	65,481
Business acquisition related payments		(1,031)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances		60,771
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(9,364)	52,603
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	12,477	30,907
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	36,764	18,031
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	49,241	48,938
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entity [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	9,482	11,619
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	2,458	3,662
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	68	(68)
Changes in other components of working capital	2,484	5,947
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	5,010	9,541
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(6)	(15,476)
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(6)	(15,476)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(3,957)	2,541
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(3,957)	2,541
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,047	(3,394)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	23,732	12,897
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	24,779	9,503
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entity [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 2,458	$ 3,662