CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents ($29,518, $38,800 and $57,133 related to consolidated construction joint ventures (“CCJVs”))	$ 167,174	$ 229,121	$ 212,463
Short-term marketable securities	27,950	49,968	22,892
Receivables, net ($45,483, $38,372 and $47,696 related to CCJVs)	417,628	313,598	422,609
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings ($21,105, $178 and $81 related to CCJVs)	62,823	33,306	40,837
Inventories	74,605	62,474	61,667
Real estate held for development and sale	11,773	12,478	50,250
Deferred income taxes	55,874	55,874	36,687
Equity in construction joint ventures	181,259	162,673	161,063
Other current assets	21,743	30,711	32,836
Total current assets	1,020,829	950,203	1,041,304
Property and equipment, net ($16,172, $22,216 and $28,194 related to CCJVs)	424,272	436,859	458,024
Long-term marketable securities	74,140	67,234	64,014
Investments in affiliates	34,177	32,480	31,338
Goodwill	53,799	53,799	53,799
Other noncurrent assets	75,826	76,580	78,655
Total assets	1,683,043	1,617,155	1,727,134
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	21	21	20
Current maturities of non-recourse debt	1,226	1,226	2,147
Accounts payable ($22,951, $16,937 and $20,075 related to CCJVs)	205,493	160,706	198,282
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings ($23,138, $60,185 and $70,518 related to CCJVs)	115,809	138,375	146,343
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($3,110, $11,299 and $12,816 related to CCJVs)	221,618	197,242	219,169
Total current liabilities	544,167	497,570	565,961
Long-term debt	270,127	270,127	270,148
Long-term non-recourse debt	5,822	6,741	7,048
Other long-term liabilities	45,887	48,580	46,474
Deferred income taxes	9,977	7,793	7,988
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 39,152,255 shares as of September 30, 2014, 38,917,728 shares as of December 31, 2013 and 38,878,194 shares as of September 30, 2013	391	389	388
Additional paid-in capital	132,396	126,449	123,681
Retained earnings	648,017	655,102	689,181
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders’ equity	780,804	781,940	813,250
Non-controlling interests	26,259	4,404	16,265
Total equity	807,063	786,344	829,515
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,683,043	$ 1,617,155	$ 1,727,134