Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Schedule of Consolidated Joint Ventures [Table Text Block]

The carrying amounts and classification of assets and liabilities of construction joint ventures we are required to consolidate are included in our consolidated financial statements as follows (in thousands):

December 31,	2011		2010
Cash and cash equivalents1	$	75,122	$	109,380
Other current assets2	33,750		50,344
Total current assets	108,872		159,724
Noncurrent assets	8,671		2,561
Total assets3	$	117,543	$	162,285
Accounts payable	$	38,193	$	33,078
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings1	22,251		46,475
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	5,129		11,633
Total current liabilities	65,573		91,186
Noncurrent liabilities	4		3
Total liabilities3	$	65,577	$	91,189

¹The volume and stage of completion of contracts from our consolidated construction joint ventures may cause fluctuations in cash and cash equivalents as well as billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings between periods.

²Prior period amounts have been revised to conform to current year presentation. The revisions had no impact on the consolidated balance sheets or on the accounting for consolidated construction joint ventures.

³The assets and liabilities of each joint venture relate solely to that joint venture. The decision to distribute joint venture cash and cash equivalents and assets must generally be made jointly by all of the partners and, accordingly, these cash and cash equivalents and assets generally are not available for the working capital needs of Granite.

Schedule of Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Table Text Block]

Following is summary financial information related to unconsolidated construction joint ventures (in thousands):

December 31,	2011		2010
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents1	$	338,681	$	318,408
Other assets	264,901		212,911
Less partners’ interest	364,979		324,485
Granite’s interest	238,603		206,834
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	85,075		72,658
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings1	280,650		282,702
Other liabilities	8,595		8,893
Less partners’ interest	236,746		232,135
Granite’s interest	137,574		132,118
Equity in construction joint ventures	$	101,029	$	74,716

¹The volume and stage of completion of contracts from our unconsolidated construction joint ventures may cause fluctuations in cash and cash equivalents as well as billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings between periods.

Years Ended December 31,	2011		2010		2009
Revenue:
Total	$	938,867	$	604,209	$	420,190
Less partners’ interest1	623,090		414,905		316,984
Granite’s interest	315,777		189,304		103,206
Cost of revenue:
Total	765,446		550,170		382,665
Less partners’ interest1	519,340		372,774		287,244
Granite’s interest	246,106		177,396		95,421
Granite’s interest in gross profit	$	69,671	$	11,908	$	7,785

¹Partners’ 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.