Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures - Schedule of Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures Revenue and Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Deficit in unconsolidatedconstruction joint venture		$ 8,200	$ 800	$ 8,200	$ 800	$ 8,600
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Net Income		(4,400)	34,000	29,300	67,400
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue		682,002	466,144	970,046	909,551
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Cost of Revenue		479,113	436,230	940,610	846,301
Parent Company [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Net Income		(2,900)	7,300	5,600	18,600
Other Partners Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue	[1]	552,986	327,980	694,771	636,100
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Cost of Revenue	[1]	347,661	305,822	671,702	591,869
Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue		129,016	138,164	275,275	273,451
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Cost of Revenue		131,452	130,408	268,908	254,432
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Gross Profit Loss		$ (2,436)	$ 7,756	$ 6,367	$ 19,019

[1] Partners’ interest represents amounts to reconcile total revenue and total cost of revenue as reported by our partners to Granite’s interest adjusted to reflect our accounting policies.