CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents ($63,806, $105,865, and $67,685 related to consolidated construction joint ventures (CCJVs))	$ 247,833	$ 321,990	$ 237,951
Short-term marketable securities	21,271	56,088	43,260
Receivables, net ($59,807, $43,902 and $26,903 related to CCJVs)	336,418	325,529	272,562
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	63,341	34,116	69,688
Inventories	68,905	59,785	67,503
Real estate held for development and sale	50,697	50,223	57,367
Deferred income taxes	36,687	36,687	38,571
Equity in construction joint ventures	148,727	105,805	107,821
Other current assets	35,651	31,834	20,436
Total current assets	1,009,530	1,022,057	915,159
Property and equipment, net ($34,891, $41,114 and $6,919 related to CCJVs)	471,265	481,478	439,664
Long-term marketable securities	55,225	55,342	45,800
Investments in affiliates	31,421	30,799	28,521
Goodwill	53,598	55,419	9,900
Other noncurrent assets	80,365	84,392	68,603
Total assets	1,701,404	1,729,487	1,507,647
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	20	8,353	9,102
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	2,147	10,707	16,328
Accounts payable ($18,297, $34,536 and $31,135 related to CCJVs)	188,124	202,541	186,290
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings ($72,094, $72,490 and $17,979 related to CCJVs)	144,044	139,692	75,629
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($9,153, $8,312 and $3,027 related to CCJVs)	200,521	169,979	155,322
Total current liabilities	534,856	531,272	442,671
Long-term debt	270,148	270,148	200,168
Long-term non-recourse debt	7,354	922	4,641
Other long-term liabilities	46,817	47,124	47,393
Deferred income taxes	8,055	8,163	3,644
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 38,852,463 shares as of June 30, 2013, 38,730,665 shares as of December 31, 2012 and 38,684,540 shares as of June 30, 2012	389	387	387
Additional paid-in capital	121,368	117,422	112,815
Retained earnings	682,610	712,144	667,278
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders' equity	804,367	829,953	780,480
Noncontrolling interests	29,807	41,905	28,650
Total equity	834,174	871,858	809,130
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,701,404	$ 1,729,487	$ 1,507,647