Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures - Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Deficit in unconsolidatedconstruction joint venture		$ (8,600)
Equity in Construction Joint Ventures Current Assets Excluding Deficit in Equity	[1]	216,063	$ 184,575
Partnership Interest [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures		$ 5,100,000
Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of active construction joint venture projects		5
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Net Income		$ 105,600	116,800	$ 283,200
Number of active construction joint venture projects		11
Cash and cash equivalents	[2]	$ 439,871	264,263
Other assets		859,749	573,898
Accounts payable		218,790	146,198
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	[2]	341,609	156,604
Other liabilities		89,901	55,289
Revenue		1,924,544	1,501,894	1,391,190
Cost of revenue		$ 1,819,257	1,386,577	1,107,533
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of active construction joint venture projects		4
Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		$ 1,600,000
Interest in assets		418,437	291,254
Interest in liabilities		202,374	106,679
Revenue		583,210	453,380	408,456
Cost of revenue		539,303	402,515	334,863
Granite's interest in gross profit		43,907	50,865	73,593
Other Partners Interest in Partnerships [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		3,500,000
Interest in assets		881,183	546,907
Interest in liabilities		447,926	251,412
Revenue	[2]	1,341,334	1,048,514	982,734
Cost of revenue	[2]	1,279,954	984,062	772,670
Parent Company [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Net Income		43,400	$ 49,200	$ 72,800
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		1,500
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		73,700
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		$ 42,500
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated and Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly		50.00%
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated and Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly		20.00%
Revenue Per Project Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated and Line Item Construction Joint Ventures		$ 1,000
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		28,600
Revenue Per Project Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated and Line Item Construction Joint Ventures		1,300
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		293,800
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		3,500,000
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		$ 87,300
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated and Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly		65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated and Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly		50.00%
Revenue Per Project Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated and Line Item Construction Joint Ventures		$ 614,000
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Total Construction Contract Value		64,800
Revenue Per Project Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated and Line Item Construction Joint Ventures		$ 37,600

[1] 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.

[2] 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 and costs in excess of billings and estimated earnings between periods.