CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents ($38,800 and $105,865 related to consolidated construction joint ventures (“CCJV”))	$ 229,121	$ 321,990
Short-term marketable securities	49,968	56,088
Receivables, net ($38,372 and $43,902 related to CCJVs)	313,598	325,529
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	33,306	34,116
Inventories	62,474	59,785
Real estate held for development and sale	12,478	50,223
Deferred income taxes	55,874	36,687
Equity in construction joint ventures	162,673	105,805
Other current assets	30,711	31,834
Total current assets	950,203	1,022,057
Property and equipment, net ($22,216 and $41,114 related to CCJVs)	436,859	481,478
Long-term marketable securities	67,234	55,342
Investments in affiliates	32,480	30,799
Goodwill	53,799	55,419
Other noncurrent assets	76,580	84,392
Total assets	1,617,155	1,729,487
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	21	8,353
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	1,226	10,707
Accounts payable ($16,937 and $34,536 related to CCJVs)	160,706	202,541
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings ($60,185 and $72,490 related to CCJVs)	138,375	139,692
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($11,299 and $8,312 related to CCJVs)	197,242	169,979
Total current liabilities	497,570	531,272
Long-term debt	270,127	270,148
Long-term non-recourse debt	6,741	922
Other long-term liabilities	48,580	47,124
Deferred income taxes	7,793	8,163
Commitments and contingencies
Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 3,000,000 shares, none outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 150,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 38,917,728 shares as of December 31, 2013 and 38,730,665 shares as of December 31, 2012	389	387
Additional paid-in capital	126,449	117,422
Retained earnings	655,102	712,144
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders’ equity	781,940	829,953
Non-controlling interests	4,404	41,905
Total equity	786,344	871,858
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,617,155	$ 1,729,487