-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GwMUmeW+DtQAWK0B3+Tz979cvNnCFbVX8/KiMQhnMpwDmBUzb3vmoEba0SsIOmeI
 9jIGNJcSrUXx1W1bs+l+fQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001185089-04-000016.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001185089-04-000016.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105150302
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001185089-04-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCDONALD REBECCA ANN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185110

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12911
		FILM NUMBER:		04504184

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 50085
		CITY:			WATSONVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95077-5085

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
</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>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000861459</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GVA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185110</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCDONALD REBECCA ANN</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><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Units/Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>306</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.85</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2675.58</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureO
fOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7.47</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.99</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2683.05</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTabl
e><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option (Right to Buy)</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F5"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F5"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F5"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><footnoteId id="F5"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5853</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Granted pursuant to the Granite Construction Incorporated 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 1,544 Stock Units and 6.5
8 Dividend Shares on Stock Units.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Dividends on Stock Units granted pursuant to the Granite Construction Incorporated 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Includes 1,544 Stock Units and 14.05 Dividend Shares on Stock Units. </footnote><footnote id="F5">Previously reported</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael Futch for Rebecca A. McDonald</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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