Property and Equipment, Net (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 1,169,828,000	$ 1,201,180,000
Less: accumulated depreciation and depletion	722,688,000	727,573,000
Property and equipment, net	447,140,000	473,607,000
Depreciation and Depletion	56,000,000	64,900,000	74,700,000
Interest Costs, Capitalized During Period	7,400,000	8,100,000
Real Estate Held for Development and Sale [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Interest Costs, Capitalized During Period	6,300,000	7,800,000
Property, Plant And Equipment Net [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Interest Costs, Capitalized During Period	1,100,000	300,000
Land and land improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	124,216,000	120,342,000
Quarry property [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	175,612,000	174,231,000
Building and leasehold improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	81,272,000	85,655,000
Equipment and vehicles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	733,158,000	778,443,000
Office furniture and equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 55,570,000	$ 42,509,000