CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents ($98,738, $105,865, and $69,423 related to consolidated construction joint ventures (CCJVs))	$ 260,773	$ 321,990	$ 226,226
Short-term marketable securities	44,841	56,088	70,444
Receivables, net ($47,040, $43,902 and $36,740 related to CCJVs)	260,231	325,529	208,707
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	48,428	34,116	49,962
Inventories	66,291	59,785	67,782
Real estate held for development and sale	50,303	50,223	58,363
Deferred income taxes	36,687	36,687	38,571
Equity in construction joint ventures	171,265	105,805	91,951
Other current assets	37,401	31,834	34,882
Total current assets	976,220	1,022,057	846,888
Property and equipment, net ($6,661, $8,671 and $9,821 related to CCJVs)	477,666	481,478	442,132
Long-term marketable securities	57,958	55,342	70,114
Investments in affiliates	30,742	30,799	30,972
Goodwill	53,593	55,419	9,900
Other noncurrent assets	82,531	84,392	69,949
Total assets	1,678,710	1,729,487	1,469,955
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	8,353	8,353	9,102
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	4,132	10,707	19,765
Accounts payable ($26,354, $34,536 and $28,591 related to CCJVs)	169,940	202,541	129,480
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings ($71,821, $72,490 and $24,827 related to CCJVs)	124,609	139,692	87,370
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($3,495, $5,129 and $5,997 related to CCJVs)	188,685	169,979	148,196
Total current liabilities	495,719	531,272	393,913
Long-term debt	270,148	270,148	208,501
Long-term non-recourse debt	7,628	922	1,371
Other long-term liabilities	49,231	47,124	50,011
Deferred income taxes	8,055	8,163	3,393
Commitments and contingencies
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 38,810,255 shares as of March 31, 2013, 38,730,665 shares as of December 31, 2012 and 38,621,370 shares as of March 31, 2012	388	387	386
Additional paid-in capital	118,265	117,422	110,432
Retained earnings	685,023	712,144	670,462
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders' equity	803,676	829,953	781,280
Noncontrolling interests	44,253	41,905	31,486
Total equity	847,929	871,858	812,766
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,678,710	$ 1,729,487	$ 1,469,955