CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 193,099	$ 252,022	$ 257,854
Short-term marketable securities	77,389	109,447	80,962
Receivables, net	357,807	243,986	375,914
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	45,884	10,519	34,448
Inventories	57,987	51,018	45,224
Real estate held for development and sale	79,173	75,716	151,638
Deferred income taxes	52,714	53,877	31,035
Equity in construction joint ventures	97,415	74,716	80,496
Other current assets	29,526	42,555	42,409
Total current assets	990,994	913,856	1,099,980
Property and equipment, net	453,822	473,607	491,363
Long-term marketable securities	59,509	34,259	49,502
Investments in affiliates	33,435	31,410	32,515
Other noncurrent assets	80,709	82,401	78,611
Total assets	1,618,469	1,535,533	1,751,971
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	8,351	8,359	8,444
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	16,690	29,760	39,157
Accounts payable	216,600	129,700	206,993
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	89,505	120,185	157,233
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	185,624	150,773	173,547
Total current liabilities	516,770	438,777	585,374
Long-term debt	208,519	217,014	216,870
Long-term non-recourse debt	27,755	25,337	16,420
Other long-term liabilities	46,985	47,996	48,764
Deferred income taxes	10,330	10,774	27,883
Commitments and contingencies
Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 3,000,000 shares, none outstanding	0	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 150,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 38,664,403 shares as of September 30, 2011, 38,745,542 shares as of December 31, 2010 and 38,769,787 shares as of September 30, 2010	387	387	388
Additional paid-in capital	108,096	104,232	101,567
Retained earnings	673,626	656,412	711,497
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders' equity	782,109	761,031	813,452
Noncontrolling interests	26,001	34,604	43,208
Total equity	808,110	795,635	856,660
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,618,469	$ 1,535,533	$ 1,751,971