-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001022676-06-000005.txt : 20060404
<SEC-HEADER>0001022676-06-000005.hdr.sgml : 20060404
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060404174140
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001022676-06-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060404
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060404

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000861459
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HEAVY CONSTRUCTION OTHER THAN BUILDING CONST - CONTRACTORS [1600]
		IRS NUMBER:				770239383
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		585 WEST BEACH ST
		CITY:			WATSONVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95076
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8317241011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		585 WEST BEACH ST
		CITY:			WATSONVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95076

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CUSUMANO GARY M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022676

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12911
		FILM NUMBER:		06739565

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NEWHALL LAND & FARMING CO
		STREET 2:		23823 VALENCIA BLVD
		CITY:			VALENCIA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91385

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEWHALL LAND & FARMING CO
		STREET 2:		23823 VALENCIA BLVD
		CITY:			VALENCIA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91385
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000861459</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GVA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001022676</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CUSUMANO GARY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>585 WEST BEACH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WATSONVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95076</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>214</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>214</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-31</value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-31</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>642</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.295</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <value>2016-03-30</value>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                    <value>481</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                    <value>A</value>
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                <value>2006-03-31</value>
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                <value>2016-03-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>36.26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <value>505</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-03-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-03-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>505</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>505</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock Units granted pursuant to the Granite Construction Incorporated Amended and Restated 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Dividends on Stock Units granted pursuant to the Granite Construction Incorporated Amended and Restated 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option was amended by mutual agreement of the reporting person and Granite Construction Incorporated to increase the exercise price of option to fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. The amended option also is reported on this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The option is an amended option. The option prior to amendment is treated as cancelled on this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael Futch, Secretary, for Gary M. Cusumano</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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