-----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,
 GAvA1pnbPJl2ExcPkUJ85Nqfa2lcbn8auJ643DIhFfqTu7IS9PrL5FE7SRhsfxNT
 lYh3bD9SJUSarFg3qeIeLQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001185114-09-000008.txt : 20091202
<SEC-HEADER>0001185114-09-000008.hdr.sgml : 20091202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091202184447
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001185114-09-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WATTS DAVID HENDERSON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185114

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12911
		FILM NUMBER:		091218648

	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>
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    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
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            <rptOwnerCik>0001185114</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WATTS DAVID HENDERSON</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>2009-11-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6067.45</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by ESOP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-31</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Units (Right to Receive]</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>1435.185</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1435.185</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60674.508</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Units [Right to Receive]</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.97</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>6067.45</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>6067.45</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54607.058</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This distribution represents the first of 10 installments of performance-based compensation and accrued dividends (refer to Footnote 5).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 1,500 Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares surrendered for taxes on stock distribution.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Previously reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Acquisition of deferred performance-based compensation in stock pursuant to the Granite Construction Incorporated Amended and Restated 1999 Equity Incentive Plan. Shares accrue dividends, payable upon distribution of stock. Mr. Watts elected to receive the shares annually in 10 equal installments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Each performance right represents a right to receive one share of common stock. The performance rights vested upon acquisition; however, because Mr. Watts chose to defer payment, the stock became payable upon retirement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">No expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Dividends accrued between March 31, 2008 and November 30, 2009 on performance-based compensation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael Futch, Secretary, for David H. Watts</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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