Intangible Assets - Finite Lived Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortized intangible assets, Gross Value	$ 34,370,000	$ 38,450,000	$ 34,370,000	$ 38,450,000	$ 34,370,000
Total amortized intangible assets, Accumulated Depreciation	(10,574,000)	(9,399,000)	(10,574,000)	(9,399,000)	(9,572,000)
Total amortized intangible assets, Net Value	23,796,000	29,051,000	23,796,000	29,051,000	24,798,000
Amortization expense	500,000	600,000	1,000,000	1,300,000
Future amortization expense, Remainder of Fiscal Year			1,000,000
Future amortization expense, Year One			1,900,000
Future amortization expense, Year Two			1,600,000
Future amortization expense, Year Three			1,500,000
Future amortization expense, Year Four			1,500,000
Future amortization expense, after Year Four			16,300,000
Permits [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortized intangible assets, Gross Value	29,713,000	33,582,000	29,713,000	33,582,000	29,713,000
Total amortized intangible assets, Accumulated Depreciation	(6,837,000)	(5,984,000)	(6,837,000)	(5,984,000)	(6,100,000)
Total amortized intangible assets, Net Value	22,876,000	27,598,000	22,876,000	27,598,000	23,613,000
Customer Lists [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortized intangible assets, Gross Value	2,198,000	2,198,000	2,198,000	2,198,000	2,198,000
Total amortized intangible assets, Accumulated Depreciation	(1,828,000)	(1,601,000)	(1,828,000)	(1,601,000)	(1,715,000)
Total amortized intangible assets, Net Value	370,000	597,000	370,000	597,000	483,000
Covenants not to compete [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortized intangible assets, Gross Value	1,588,000	1,588,000	1,588,000	1,588,000	1,588,000
Total amortized intangible assets, Accumulated Depreciation	(1,401,000)	(1,247,000)	(1,401,000)	(1,247,000)	(1,325,000)
Total amortized intangible assets, Net Value	187,000	341,000	187,000	341,000	263,000
Other [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortized intangible assets, Gross Value	871,000	1,082,000	871,000	1,082,000	871,000
Total amortized intangible assets, Accumulated Depreciation	(508,000)	(567,000)	(508,000)	(567,000)	(432,000)
Total amortized intangible assets, Net Value	$ 363,000	$ 515,000	$ 363,000	$ 515,000	$ 439,000

Future Amortization Expense After Year Four

Name:	gva_FutureAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	gva
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The accumulated amount of amortization of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(1)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate amount of intangible asset amortization recognized as expense during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(2)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of the gross carrying amounts before accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date of all intangible assets having statutory or estimated useful lives. The aggregate gross carrying amount (including any previously recognized impairment charges) of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate sum of gross carrying value of a major finite-lived intangible asset class, less accumulated amortization and any impairment charges. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the remainder of the current fiscal year.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year four of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year one of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearOne
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year three of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during year two of the five succeeding fiscal years.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(3)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration