CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents ($27,612, $38,800 and $98,738 related to consolidated construction joint ventures (“CCJVs”))	$ 205,780	$ 229,121	$ 260,773
Short-term marketable securities	41,143	49,968	44,841
Receivables, net ($39,014, $38,372 and $47,040 related to CCJVs)	245,281	313,598	260,231
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	53,311	33,306	48,428
Inventories	77,407	62,474	66,291
Real estate held for development and sale	11,742	12,478	50,303
Deferred income taxes	55,874	55,874	36,687
Equity in construction joint ventures	168,045	162,673	171,265
Other current assets	40,142	30,711	37,401
Total current assets	898,725	950,203	976,220
Property and equipment, net ($19,801, $22,216 and $39,486 related to CCJVs)	432,398	436,859	477,666
Long-term marketable securities	65,969	67,234	57,958
Investments in affiliates	33,336	32,480	30,742
Goodwill	53,799	53,799	53,593
Other noncurrent assets	76,944	76,580	82,531
Total assets	1,561,171	1,617,155	1,678,710
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	21	21	8,353
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	1,226	1,226	4,132
Accounts payable ($22,136, $16,937 and $26,354 related to CCJVs)	141,241	160,706	169,940
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings ($43,087, $60,185 and $71,821 related to CCJVs)	125,618	138,375	124,609
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($7,074, $11,299 and $8,983 related to CCJVs)	193,307	197,242	188,685
Total current liabilities	461,413	497,570	495,719
Long-term debt	270,127	270,127	270,148
Long-term non-recourse debt	6,435	6,741	7,628
Other long-term liabilities	48,662	48,580	49,231
Deferred income taxes	9,803	7,793	8,055
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 39,098,549 shares as of March 31, 2014, 38,917,728 shares as of December 31, 2013 and 38,810,255 shares as of March 31, 2013	391	389	388
Additional paid-in capital	126,937	126,449	118,265
Retained earnings	629,443	655,102	685,023
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders’ equity	756,771	781,940	803,676
Non-controlling interests	7,960	4,404	44,253
Total equity	764,731	786,344	847,929
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,561,171	$ 1,617,155	$ 1,678,710