CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents ($57,133, $105,865 and $74,020 related to consolidated construction joint ventures (“CCJVs”))	$ 212,463	$ 321,990	$ 287,322
Short-term marketable securities	22,892	56,088	47,185
Receivables, net ($47,696, $43,902 and $31,028 related to CCJVs)	422,609	325,529	363,455
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	40,837	34,116	49,548
Inventories	61,667	59,785	63,999
Real estate held for development and sale	50,250	50,223	57,964
Deferred income taxes	36,687	36,687	38,571
Equity in construction joint ventures	161,063	105,805	97,890
Other current assets	33,204	31,834	13,974
Total current assets	1,041,672	1,022,057	1,019,908
Property and equipment, net ($28,194, $41,114 and $6,661 related to CCJVs)	456,524	481,478	432,293
Long-term marketable securities	64,014	55,342	37,802
Investments in affiliates	31,338	30,799	30,257
Goodwill	53,799	55,419	9,900
Other noncurrent assets	78,655	84,392	68,475
Total assets	1,726,002	1,729,487	1,598,635
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	20	8,353	8,352
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	2,147	10,707	16,712
Accounts payable ($20,075, $34,536 and $30,975 related to CCJVs)	199,480	202,541	209,683
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings ($70,518, $72,490 and $13,955 related to CCJVs)	144,706	139,692	91,348
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($12,804, $8,312 and $3,495 related to CCJVs)	219,169	169,979	167,166
Total current liabilities	565,522	531,272	493,261
Long-term debt	270,148	270,148	200,168
Long-term non-recourse debt	7,048	922	4,375
Other long-term liabilities	46,474	47,124	47,913
Deferred income taxes	7,988	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 38,878,194 shares as of September 30, 2013, 38,730,665 shares as of December 31, 2012 and 38,706,966 shares as of September 30, 2012	388	387	387
Additional paid-in capital	123,681	117,422	114,917
Retained earnings	688,440	712,144	699,277
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders’ equity	812,509	829,953	814,581
Noncontrolling interests	16,313	41,905	34,693
Total equity	828,822	871,858	849,274
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,726,002	$ 1,729,487	$ 1,598,635