Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 768,286	$ 834,671	$ 1,315,872	$ 1,401,003
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue	689,806	736,439	1,187,617	1,249,059
Gross profit	78,480	98,232	128,255	151,944
Selling, general and administrative expenses	53,162	58,628	111,663	119,789
Other costs (see Note 7)	20,177	5,868	28,391	80,177
Gain on sales of property and equipment, net	(385)	(1,052)	(717)	(3,297)
Operating income (loss)	5,526	34,788	(11,082)	(44,725)
Other (income) expense
Interest income	(782)	(162)	(1,405)	(395)
Interest expense	3,896	5,502	7,471	10,874
Equity in income of affiliates, net	(541)	(2,607)	(235)	(2,875)
Other (income) expense, net	3,357	(1,800)	4,739	(2,026)
Total other expense, net	5,930	933	10,570	5,578
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(404)	33,855	(21,652)	(50,303)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes on continuing operations	2,549	7,710	(2,782)	(14,047)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(2,953)	26,145	(18,870)	(36,256)
Net income from discontinued operations	19,521	29,602	25,617	26,680
Net income (loss)	16,568	55,747	6,747	(9,576)
Amount attributable to non-controlling interests from continuing operations	583	(1,286)	(2,535)	(2,158)
Net income (loss) attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated from continuing operations	(2,370)	24,859	(21,405)	(38,414)
Net income attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated from discontinued operations	19,521	29,602	25,617	26,680
Net income (loss) attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated	$ 17,151	$ 54,461	$ 4,212	$ (11,734)
Basic continuing operations per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.54	$ (0.47)	$ (0.84)
Basic discontinued operations per share (in dollars per share)	0.44	0.65	0.57	0.58
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	0.39	1.19	0.10	(0.26)
Diluted continuing operations per share (in dollars per share)	(0.05)	0.52	(0.47)	(0.84)
Diluted discontinued operations per share (in dollars per share)	0.44	0.62	0.57	0.58
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 1.14	$ 0.10	$ (0.26)
Basic (in shares)	44,534	45,798	45,128	45,748
Diluted (in shares)	44,534	47,798	45,128	45,748
Construction [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 632,260	$ 713,425	$ 1,107,195	$ 1,220,396
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue	571,094	637,158	997,837	1,091,360
Materials [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	136,026	121,246	208,677	180,607
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue	$ 118,712	$ 99,281	$ 189,780	$ 157,699