CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents ($67,685, $75,122, and $89,666 related to consolidated construction joint ventures (CCJV))	$ 237,951	$ 256,990	$ 190,069
Short-term marketable securities	43,260	70,408	78,255
Receivables, net ($26,903, $30,332 and $31,958 related to CCJVs)	272,562	251,838	283,944
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	69,688	37,703	51,739
Inventories	67,503	50,975	64,727
Real estate held for development and sale	57,367	67,037	78,725
Deferred income taxes	38,571	38,571	52,714
Equity in construction joint ventures	107,821	101,029	87,653
Other current assets	20,436	35,171	34,779
Total current assets	915,159	909,722	922,605
Property and equipment, net ($6,919, $8,671 and $11,012 related to CCJVs)	439,664	447,140	464,616
Long-term marketable securities	45,800	79,250	49,580
Investments in affiliates	28,521	31,071	32,932
Other noncurrent assets	78,503	80,616	82,214
Total assets	1,507,647	1,547,799	1,551,947
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	9,102	9,102	8,351
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	16,328	23,071	16,454
Accounts payable ($31,135, $38,193 and $37,229 related to CCJVs)	186,290	158,660	179,664
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings ($17,979, $22,251 and $41,386 related to CCJVs)	75,629	90,845	122,014
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($3,027, $5,129 and $9,147 related to CCJVs)	155,322	166,790	156,727
Total current liabilities	442,671	448,468	483,210
Long-term debt	200,168	208,501	208,519
Long-term non-recourse debt	4,641	9,912	28,907
Other long-term liabilities	47,393	49,221	46,460
Deferred income taxes	3,644	4,034	10,983
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 38,684,540 shares as of June 30, 2012, 38,682,771 shares as of December 31, 2011 and 38,667,457 shares as of June 30, 2011	387	387	387
Additional paid-in capital	112,815	111,514	105,287
Retained earnings	667,278	687,296	642,228
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders' equity	780,480	799,197	747,902
Noncontrolling interests	28,650	28,466	25,966
Total equity	809,130	827,663	773,868
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,507,647	$ 1,547,799	$ 1,551,947