CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents ($74,020, $75,122, and $65,350 related to consolidated construction joint ventures (CCJV))	$ 287,322	$ 256,990	$ 193,099
Short-term marketable securities	47,185	70,408	77,389
Receivables, net ($31,028, $30,332 and $28,493 related to CCJVs)	363,455	251,838	357,807
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	49,548	37,703	45,884
Inventories	63,999	50,975	57,987
Real estate held for development and sale	57,964	67,037	79,173
Deferred income taxes	38,571	38,571	52,714
Equity in construction joint ventures	97,890	101,029	97,415
Other current assets	13,974	35,171	29,526
Total current assets	1,019,908	909,722	990,994
Property and equipment, net ($6,661, $8,671 and $9,821 related to CCJVs)	432,293	447,140	453,822
Long-term marketable securities	37,802	79,250	59,509
Investments in affiliates	30,257	31,071	33,435
Other noncurrent assets	78,375	80,616	80,709
Total assets	1,598,635	1,547,799	1,618,469
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	8,352	9,102	8,351
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	16,712	23,071	16,690
Accounts payable ($30,975, $38,193 and $36,660 related to CCJVs)	209,683	158,660	216,600
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings ($13,955, $22,251 and $17,116 related to CCJVs)	91,348	90,845	89,505
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($3,495, $5,129 and $5,997 related to CCJVs)	167,166	166,790	185,624
Total current liabilities	493,261	448,468	516,770
Long-term debt	200,168	208,501	208,519
Long-term non-recourse debt	4,375	9,912	27,755
Other long-term liabilities	47,913	49,221	46,985
Deferred income taxes	3,644	4,034	10,330
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 38,706,966 shares as of September 30, 2012, 38,682,771 shares as of December 31, 2011 and 38,664,403 shares as of September 30, 2011	387	387	387
Additional paid-in capital	114,917	111,514	108,096
Retained earnings	699,277	687,296	673,626
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders' equity	814,581	799,197	782,109
Noncontrolling interests	34,693	28,466	26,001
Total equity	849,274	827,663	808,110
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,598,635	$ 1,547,799	$ 1,618,469