-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NsZMBnsfeGmCDOmb/8xs/Znm9s111rdkGNql4+KFDBn7s3pw6wSb2IKYiKTBuEze
 JGcPXLXZ5QSfGaL4ourMyg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001082775-03-000014.txt : 20031002
<SEC-HEADER>0001082775-03-000014.hdr.sgml : 20031002
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031002132044
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001082775-03-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031002

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:			KELSEY DAVID H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001082775

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12911
		FILM NUMBER:		03923178

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OGLEBAY NORTON CO
		STREET 2:		1100 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2598
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2168613300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OGLEBAY NORTON CO
		STREET 2:		1100 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2598
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000861459</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GVA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001082775</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELSEY DAVID H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>585 W. 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><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.96</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>262</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-03-31</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-03-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyi
ngSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>262</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>967</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.51</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>328</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></t
ransactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-06-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>328</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1295</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.58</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapI
nvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>815</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-09-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>815</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2110</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Granted retroactively pursuant to Granite Construction Incorpor
ated's 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Granted pursuant to Granite Construction Incorporated's 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael Futch for David H. Kelsey</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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