CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue
Construction	$ 1,262,675	$ 1,186,445	$ 1,251,197
Large Project Construction	812,720	825,044	777,811
Construction Materials	295,634	263,781	237,893
Total revenue	2,371,029	2,275,270	2,266,901
Cost of revenue
Construction	1,072,485	1,071,408	1,148,905
Large Project Construction	732,708	717,382	710,354
Construction Materials	262,478	244,233	230,465
Total cost of revenue	2,067,671	2,033,023	2,089,724
Gross profit	303,358	242,247	177,177
Selling, general and administrative expenses	207,339	195,762	191,860
Restructuring and impairment (gains) charges, net	(6,003)	(2,643)	52,139
Gain on sales of property and equipment	(8,286)	(15,972)	(12,130)
Operating income (loss)	110,308	65,100	(54,692)
Other expense (income)
Interest income	(2,135)	(1,872)	(1,785)
Interest expense	14,257	14,159	14,386
Equity in income of affiliates	(3,210)	(901)	(1,304)
Other income, net	(2,031)	(1,883)	(1,960)
Total other expense	6,881	9,503	9,337
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	103,427	55,597	(64,029)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	35,179	19,721	(19,263)
Net income (loss)	68,248	35,876	(44,766)
Amount attributable to non-controlling interests	(7,763)	(10,530)	8,343
Net income (loss) attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated	$ 60,485	$ 25,346	$ (36,423)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders (see Note 16)
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.54	$ 0.65	$ (0.94)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.52	$ 0.64	$ (0.94)
Weighted average shares of common stock
Weighted average common stock outstanding, basic (in shares)	39,337	39,096	38,803
Weighted average common stock outstanding, diluted (in shares)	39,868	39,795	38,803
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.52	$ 0.52