Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance			$ 786,344,000		$ 871,858,000
Purchase of common stock			(4,369,000)	[1]	(5,022,000)	[2]
Other transactions with shareholders			7,989,000	[3]	8,796,000	[3]
Transactions with noncontrolling interests, net			12,804,000		(14,708,000)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	13,641,000	1,419,000	(6,913,000)		(20,563,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	22,207,000	1,782,000	945,000		(18,045,000)
Dividends on common stock			(10,170,000)		(10,096,000)
Stockholders' equity, ending balance	793,543,000	832,783,000	793,543,000		832,783,000
Shares Purchased for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation			113,000		168,000
Granite Construction [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance			781,940,000		829,953,000
Purchase of common stock			(4,369,000)	[1]	(5,022,000)	[2]
Other transactions with shareholders			7,989,000	[3]	8,796,000	[3]
Transactions with noncontrolling interests, net			0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent			(6,913,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)					(20,563,000)
Dividends on common stock			(10,170,000)		(10,096,000)
Stockholders' equity, ending balance	768,477,000	803,068,000	768,477,000		803,068,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance			4,404,000		41,905,000
Purchase of common stock			0	[1]	0	[2]
Other transactions with shareholders			0	[3]	0	[3]
Transactions with noncontrolling interests, net			12,804,000		(14,708,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)			7,858,000		2,518,000
Dividends on common stock			0		0
Stockholders' equity, ending balance	$ 25,066,000	$ 29,715,000	$ 25,066,000		$ 29,715,000

[1] Represents 113,000 shares purchased in connection with employee tax withholding for shares/units vested under our Amended and Restated 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.

[2] Represents 168,000 shares purchased in connection with employee tax withholding for shares/units vested under our Amended and Restated 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.

[3] Amounts are comprised primarily of amortized restricted stock and units.