Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures - Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Equity in construction joint ventures	$ 87,653,000		$ 72,571,000		$ 87,653,000		$ 72,571,000		$ 74,716,000
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	225,600,000				225,600,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	45.00%				45.00%
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	57,600,000				57,600,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	20.00%				20.00%
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	51,900,000				51,900,000
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	21,000,000				21,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Per Project Remaining to be Recognized on Line Item Construction Joint Ventures	6,500,000				6,500,000
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	480,400,000				480,400,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	60.00%				60.00%
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	975,400,000				975,400,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	42.50%				42.50%
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	152,700,000				152,700,000
Revenue Per Project Remaining to be Recognized on Line Item Construction Joint Ventures	49,100,000				49,100,000
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	70,000,000				70,000,000
Partnership Interest [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	1,700,000,000				1,700,000,000
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Assets	588,152,000		412,165,000		588,152,000		412,165,000		531,319,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Liabilities	385,084,000		250,868,000		385,084,000		250,868,000		364,253,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue	224,498,000		136,592,000		424,266,000		258,398,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Cost of Revenue	183,130,000		119,209,000		334,010,000		228,384,000
Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	600,000,000				600,000,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Assets	230,223,000		158,931,000		230,223,000		158,931,000		206,834,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Liabilities	142,570,000		86,360,000		142,570,000		86,360,000		132,118,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue	60,566,000		44,717,000		133,988,000		78,763,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Cost of Revenue	54,635,000		43,767,000		103,651,000		78,455,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Gross Profit Loss	5,931,000		950,000		30,337,000		308,000
Other Partners Interest in Partnerships [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Remaining Construction Contract Value	1,100,000,000				1,100,000,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Assets	357,929,000		253,234,000		357,929,000		253,234,000		324,485,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Liabilities	242,514,000		164,508,000		242,514,000		164,508,000		232,135,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue	163,932,000	[1]	91,875,000	[1]	290,278,000	[1]	179,635,000	[1]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Cost of Revenue	$ 128,495,000	[1]	$ 75,442,000	[1]	$ 230,359,000	[1]	$ 149,929,000	[1]

[1] Partners’ interest represents amounts to reconcile total revenue and total cost of revenue as reported by our partners to Granite’s interest adjusted to reflect our accounting policies.