Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures - Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 146,458,000		$ 247,833,000		$ 146,458,000		$ 247,833,000		$ 229,121,000		$ 321,990,000
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	76,228,000		62,426,000		76,228,000		62,426,000		33,306,000
Other current assets	30,727,000		36,203,000		30,727,000		36,203,000		30,711,000
Total current assets	977,920,000		1,009,166,000		977,920,000		1,009,166,000		950,203,000
Property and equipment, net	426,700,000		470,893,000		426,700,000		470,893,000		436,859,000
Other noncurrent assets	76,797,000		80,365,000		76,797,000		80,365,000		76,580,000
Total assets	1,653,386,000		1,700,668,000		1,653,386,000		1,700,668,000		1,617,155,000
Accounts payable	210,777,000		188,124,000		210,777,000		188,124,000		160,706,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	125,957,000		144,462,000		125,957,000		144,462,000		138,375,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	187,348,000		200,758,000		187,348,000		200,758,000		197,242,000
Total current liabilities	525,329,000		535,511,000		525,329,000		535,511,000		497,570,000
Construction	269,220,000		308,602,000		426,261,000		485,720,000
Net cash used in operating activities					(72,388,000)		(51,648,000)
Partnership Interest [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	3,900,000,000				3,900,000,000
Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	29,109,000		63,806,000		29,109,000		63,806,000		38,800,000
Receivables, Net, Current	45,825,000		59,807,000		45,825,000		59,807,000		38,372,000
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	25,217,000		477,000		25,217,000		477,000		178,000
Other current assets	4,276,000		3,115,000		4,276,000		3,115,000		4,600,000
Total current assets	104,427,000		127,205,000		104,427,000		127,205,000		81,950,000
Property and equipment, net	16,957,000		34,891,000		16,957,000		34,891,000		22,216,000
Other noncurrent assets	0		1,253,000		0		1,253,000		0
Total assets	121,384,000	[1]	163,349,000	[1]	121,384,000	[1]	163,349,000	[1]	104,166,000	[1]
Accounts payable	26,246,000		18,297,000		26,246,000		18,297,000		16,937,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	27,876,000		72,094,000		27,876,000		72,094,000		60,185,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	3,805,000		9,153,000		3,805,000		9,153,000		11,299,000
Total liabilities	57,927,000	[1]	99,544,000	[1]	57,927,000	[1]	99,544,000	[1]	88,421,000	[1]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	4				4
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	9				9
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	4				4
Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	1,100,000,000				1,100,000,000
Other Partners Interest in Partnerships [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	2,800,000,000				2,800,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	400,000				400,000
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures	100,000				100,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	51.00%				51.00%
Construction	66,000,000		45,500,000		98,200,000		88,700,000
Net cash used in operating activities	41,900,000		16,300,000
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	96,600,000				96,600,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	20.00%				20.00%
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	42,400,000				42,400,000
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	100,000				100,000
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	28,500,000				28,500,000
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	364,400,000				364,400,000
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures	51,900,000				51,900,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	65.00%				65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	3,100,000,000				3,100,000,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	50.00%				50.00%
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	84,900,000				84,900,000
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	548,200,000				548,200,000
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	$ 62,600,000				$ 62,600,000

[1] The assets and liabilities of each joint venture relate solely to that joint venture. The decision to distribute joint venture cash and cash equivalents and assets must generally be made jointly by all of the partners and, accordingly, these cash and cash equivalents and assets generally are not available for the working capital needs of Granite until distributed.