CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenue
Construction	$ 226,849	$ 209,487
Large Project Construction	207,033	195,449
Construction Materials	34,518	34,516
Total revenue	468,400	439,452
Cost of revenue
Construction	198,900	182,554
Large Project Construction	204,478	181,944
Construction Materials	39,896	35,709
Total cost of revenue	443,274	400,207
Gross profit	25,126	39,245
Selling, general and administrative expenses	61,837	56,133
Gain on sales of property and equipment	(270)	(600)
Operating loss	(36,441)	(16,288)
Other (income) expense
Interest income	(1,051)	(836)
Interest expense	2,743	3,049
Equity in income of affiliates	(916)	(1,442)
Other income, net	(870)	(1,372)
Total other income	(94)	(601)
Loss before benefit from income taxes	(36,347)	(15,687)
Benefit from income taxes	(12,496)	(5,924)
Net loss	(23,851)	(9,763)
Amount attributable to non-controlling interests	61	(678)
Net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated	$ (23,790)	$ (10,441)
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders (see Note 11)
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.60)	$ (0.26)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.60)	$ (0.26)
Weighted average shares of common stock
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic	39,649	39,433
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted	39,649	39,433
Dividends per common share (in US$ per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.13