Receivables, Net (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	$ 316,111,000						$ 328,278,000				$ 316,111,000	$ 328,278,000
Allowance for Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Current	2,513,000						2,749,000				2,513,000	2,749,000
Receivables, net	313,598,000						325,529,000				313,598,000	325,529,000
Revenue, Net	598,099,000	739,750,000	[1]	550,348,000	[2]	378,704,000	504,781,000	728,482,000	539,615,000	310,160,000	2,266,901,000	2,083,037,000	2,009,531,000
Notes Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	1,300,000						2,000,000				1,300,000	2,000,000
Construction [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenue, Net											1,251,197,000	984,106,000	1,043,614,000
Large Project Construction [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenue, Net											777,811,000	863,217,000	725,043,000
Construction Contracts [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	266,641,000						289,044,000				266,641,000	289,044,000
Completed and in Progress [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	193,538,000						195,244,000				193,538,000	195,244,000
Retentions [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	73,103,000						93,800,000				73,103,000	93,800,000
Escrow [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	25,124,000						41,494,000				25,124,000	41,494,000
Non Escrow [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	47,979,000						52,306,000				47,979,000	52,306,000
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Non-escrow retention receivable - current	39,284,000						44,317,000				39,284,000	44,317,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - 0 to 90 days past due	1,650,000						2,372,000				1,650,000	2,372,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - over 90 days past due	7,045,000						5,617,000				7,045,000	5,617,000
Construction Material Sales [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	36,813,000						26,918,000				36,813,000	26,918,000
Other Business Products and Services [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	12,657,000						12,316,000				12,657,000	12,316,000
Government [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Percentage Of Revenue Attributable to Counterparty by Industry											74.40%	80.60%	83.80%
Government [Member] | Construction And Large Project Contruction [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total revenue from reportable segments											1,700,000,000	1,700,000,000	1,700,000,000
Federal [Member] | Non Escrow [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	2,878,000						3,234,000				2,878,000	3,234,000
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Non-escrow retention receivable - current	2,843,000						3,116,000				2,843,000	3,116,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - 0 to 90 days past due	13,000						72,000				13,000	72,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - over 90 days past due	22,000						46,000				22,000	46,000
State [Member] | Non Escrow [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	5,579,000						2,971,000				5,579,000	2,971,000
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Non-escrow retention receivable - current	4,919,000						2,148,000				4,919,000	2,148,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - 0 to 90 days past due	326,000						502,000				326,000	502,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - over 90 days past due	334,000						321,000				334,000	321,000
California Department of Transportation [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenue, Net											265,800,000	272,900,000	264,900,000
Percentage Of Revenue Attributable to Counterparty by Industry											11.70%	13.10%	13.20%
California Department of Transportation [Member] | Construction [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenue, Net											239,900,000	268,900,000	241,100,000
Percentage Of Revenue Attributable to Counterparty by Industry											19.20%	27.30%	23.10%
California Department of Transportation [Member] | Large Project Construction [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Revenue, Net											25,900,000	4,100,000	23,800,000
Percentage Of Revenue Attributable to Counterparty by Industry											0.10%	0.50%	3.30%
Local [Member] | Non Escrow [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	31,122,000						31,559,000				31,122,000	31,559,000
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Non-escrow retention receivable - current	24,705,000						25,743,000				24,705,000	25,743,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - 0 to 90 days past due	1,024,000						1,082,000				1,024,000	1,082,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - over 90 days past due	5,393,000						4,734,000				5,393,000	4,734,000
Private [Member] | Non Escrow [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Current	8,400,000						14,542,000				8,400,000	14,542,000
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Non-escrow retention receivable - current	6,817,000						13,310,000				6,817,000	13,310,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - 0 to 90 days past due	287,000						716,000				287,000	716,000
Non-escrow retention receivable - over 90 days past due	$ 1,296,000						$ 516,000				$ 1,296,000	$ 516,000

[1] Net income for the quarter ended September 30 is approximately $2.1 million ($3.0 million pre-tax) higher than the amount previously reported in our Quarterly Report Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013 of $4.5 million. The pre-tax adjustments were primarily related to (i) an over-accrual of pre-bid costs which affected selling, general and administrative expenses and accrued and other current liabilities in the amount of $1.4 million and (ii) a revision in equipment-related costs, which affected cost of revenue and property and equipment in the amount of $1.6 million.

[2] Net income for the quarter ended June 30 is approximately $1.4 million ($1.9 million pre-tax) lower than the amounts previously reported in our Form 10-Q for the quarter period ended June 30, 2013 of $3.2 million. The pre-tax adjustments were primarily related to equipment-related costs of $1.7 million.