CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 226,226	$ 256,990	$ 240,768
Short-term marketable securities	70,444	70,408	83,084
Receivables, net	208,707	251,838	170,441
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	49,962	37,703	33,302
Inventories	67,782	50,975	56,899
Real estate held for development and sale	58,363	67,037	77,128
Deferred income taxes	38,571	38,571	52,583
Equity in construction joint ventures	91,951	101,029	78,773
Other current assets	34,882	35,171	44,059
Total current assets	846,888	909,722	837,037
Property and equipment, net	442,132	447,140	468,929
Long-term marketable securities	70,114	79,250	46,251
Investments in affiliates	30,972	31,071	28,893
Other noncurrent assets	79,849	80,616	83,478
Total assets	1,469,955	1,547,799	1,464,588
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	9,102	9,102	8,351
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	19,765	23,071	17,740
Accounts payable	129,480	158,660	94,688
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	87,370	90,845	113,347
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	148,196	166,790	144,584
Total current liabilities	393,913	448,468	378,710
Long-term debt	208,501	208,501	216,852
Long-term non-recourse debt	1,371	9,912	30,454
Other long-term liabilities	50,011	49,221	47,943
Deferred income taxes	3,393	4,034	11,048
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 38,621,370 shares as of March 31, 2012, 38,682,771 shares as of December 31, 2011 and 38,634,470 shares as of March 31, 2011	386	387	386
Additional paid-in capital	110,432	111,514	102,548
Retained earnings	670,462	687,296	642,354
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders' equity	781,280	799,197	745,288
Noncontrolling interests	31,486	28,466	34,293
Total equity	812,766	827,663	779,581
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,469,955	$ 1,547,799	$ 1,464,588