Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Construction	$ 447,097,000	$ 470,567,000	$ 873,357,000	$ 956,287,000
Total revenue	719,764,000	739,752,000	1,685,481,000	1,668,803,000
Real Estate	7,000	16,000	29,000	141,000
Construction Materials	93,214,000	83,172,000	200,985,000	173,107,000
Large Project Construction	179,446,000	185,997,000	611,110,000	539,268,000
Gross profit	66,692,000	55,860,000	170,515,000	135,513,000
Assets	1,683,043,000	1,727,134,000	1,683,043,000	1,727,134,000	1,617,155,000
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Gross profit	66,692,000	55,860,000	170,515,000	135,513,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	47,386,000	45,527,000	147,731,000	149,477,000
Gain on sales of property and equipment	3,004,000	3,259,000	6,891,000	7,653,000
Other income (expense), net	(2,124,000)	(2,114,000)	(6,323,000)	(8,068,000)
Loss before benefit from income taxes	20,186,000	11,478,000	23,352,000	(14,379,000)
Construction [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Construction	447,097,000	470,567,000	873,357,000	956,287,000
Large Project Construction [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue		185,997,000
Large Project Construction	179,446,000		611,110,000	539,268,000
Construction Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue		83,172,000
Construction Materials	93,214,000		200,985,000	173,107,000
Real Estate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Real Estate	7,000	16,000	29,000	141,000
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	773,332,000	802,866,000	1,771,165,000	1,778,243,000
Elimination of intersegment revenue	773,332,000	802,866,000	1,771,165,000	1,778,243,000
Gross profit	66,692,000	55,860,000	170,515,000	135,513,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	14,806,000	17,767,000	41,133,000	46,073,000
Assets	720,268,000	758,506,000	720,268,000	758,506,000
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Gross profit	66,692,000	55,860,000	170,515,000	135,513,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Construction [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	447,097,000	470,567,000	873,357,000	956,287,000
Elimination of intersegment revenue	447,097,000	470,567,000	873,357,000	956,287,000
Gross profit	48,802,000	50,719,000	82,773,000	87,989,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	4,621,000	8,502,000	12,865,000	20,194,000
Assets	150,070,000	155,440,000	150,070,000	155,440,000
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Gross profit	48,802,000	50,719,000	82,773,000	87,989,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Large Project Construction [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	179,446,000	185,997,000	611,110,000	539,268,000
Elimination of intersegment revenue	179,446,000	185,997,000	611,110,000	539,268,000
Gross profit	5,679,000	(2,163,000)	72,264,000	42,129,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	4,777,000	3,634,000	12,001,000	8,792,000
Assets	247,694,000	212,644,000	247,694,000	212,644,000
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Gross profit	5,679,000	(2,163,000)	72,264,000	42,129,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Construction Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	146,782,000	146,286,000	286,669,000	282,547,000
Elimination of intersegment revenue	146,782,000	146,286,000	286,669,000	282,547,000
Gross profit	12,204,000	7,288,000	15,449,000	5,268,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	5,408,000	5,631,000	16,267,000	17,087,000
Assets	310,731,000	340,172,000	310,731,000	340,172,000
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Gross profit	12,204,000	7,288,000	15,449,000	5,268,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	7,000	16,000	29,000	141,000
Elimination of intersegment revenue	7,000	16,000	29,000	141,000
Gross profit	7,000	16,000	29,000	127,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	0	0	0	0
Assets	11,773,000	50,250,000	11,773,000	50,250,000
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Gross profit	7,000	16,000	29,000	127,000
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	(53,568,000)	(63,114,000)	(85,684,000)	(109,440,000)
Elimination of intersegment revenue	(53,568,000)	(63,114,000)	(85,684,000)	(109,440,000)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Construction [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	0	0	0	0
Elimination of intersegment revenue	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Large Project Construction [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	0	0	0	0
Elimination of intersegment revenue	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Construction Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	(53,568,000)	(63,114,000)	(85,684,000)	(109,440,000)
Elimination of intersegment revenue	(53,568,000)	(63,114,000)	(85,684,000)	(109,440,000)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from reportable segments	0	0	0	0
Elimination of intersegment revenue	0	0	0	0
Maximum [Member] | Construction [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Contract Value	75,000,000		75,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Large Project Construction [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Contract Value	$ 75,000,000		$ 75,000,000