Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures - Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 167,174,000		$ 212,463,000		$ 167,174,000		$ 212,463,000		$ 229,121,000		$ 321,990,000
Other current assets	21,743,000		32,836,000		21,743,000		32,836,000		30,711,000
Total current assets	1,020,829,000		1,041,304,000		1,020,829,000		1,041,304,000		950,203,000
Property and equipment, net	424,272,000		458,024,000		424,272,000		458,024,000		436,859,000
Other noncurrent assets	75,826,000		78,655,000		75,826,000		78,655,000		76,580,000
Total assets	1,683,043,000		1,727,134,000		1,683,043,000		1,727,134,000		1,617,155,000
Accounts payable	205,493,000		198,282,000		205,493,000		198,282,000		160,706,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	115,809,000		146,343,000		115,809,000		146,343,000		138,375,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	221,618,000		219,169,000		221,618,000		219,169,000		197,242,000
Total current liabilities	544,167,000		565,961,000		544,167,000		565,961,000		497,570,000
Construction	447,097,000		470,567,000		873,357,000		956,287,000
Net cash used in operating activities					(46,833,000)		(64,515,000)
Partnership Interest [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	6,100,000,000				6,100,000,000
Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	29,518,000	[1]	57,133,000	[1]	29,518,000	[1]	57,133,000	[1]	38,800,000	[1]
Receivables, Net	45,483,000		47,696,000		45,483,000		47,696,000		38,372,000
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	21,105,000	[1]	81,000	[1]	21,105,000	[1]	81,000	[1]	178,000	[1]
Other current assets	1,910,000		3,734,000		1,910,000		3,734,000		4,600,000
Total current assets	98,016,000		108,644,000		98,016,000		108,644,000		81,950,000
Property and equipment, net	16,172,000		28,194,000		16,172,000		28,194,000		22,216,000
Total assets	114,188,000	[2]	136,838,000	[2]	114,188,000	[2]	136,838,000	[2]	104,166,000	[2]
Accounts payable	22,951,000		20,075,000		22,951,000		20,075,000		16,937,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	23,138,000	[1]	70,518,000	[1]	23,138,000	[1]	70,518,000	[1]	60,185,000	[1]
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	3,110,000		12,816,000		3,110,000		12,816,000		11,299,000
Total liabilities	49,199,000	[2]	103,409,000	[2]	49,199,000	[2]	103,409,000	[2]	88,421,000	[2]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	3				3
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	11				11
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	1,800,000,000				1,800,000,000
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	4,300,000,000				4,300,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	32,400,000				32,400,000
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	55.00%				55.00%
Construction	23,800,000		42,400,000		122,000,000		131,100,000
Net cash used in operating activities					44,700,000		10,400,000
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	72,800,000				72,800,000
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	42,600,000				42,600,000
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	300,000				300,000
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	28,700,000				28,700,000
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	364,300,000				364,300,000
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures	43,900,000				43,900,000
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	86,100,000				86,100,000
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	696,900,000				696,900,000
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	$ 63,800,000				$ 63,800,000

[1] The volume and stage of completion of contracts from our consolidated construction joint ventures may cause fluctuations in cash and cash equivalents as well as billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings between periods.

[2] The assets and liabilities of each consolidated 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 a majority of the members and, accordingly, these cash and cash equivalents and assets generally are not available for the working capital needs of Granite until distributed.