Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Corporations Reportable Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 669,225	$ 561,326	$ 1,097,855	$ 945,234
Net Sales	601,937	507,332	981,615	851,390
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	96,241	69,635	80,344	46,314
Total Aggregates Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	602,505	499,982	968,821	823,660
Net Sales	540,017	450,700	862,346	739,589
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	86,854	58,936	71,058	28,460
Specialty Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	66,720	61,344	129,034	121,574
Net Sales	61,920	56,632	119,269	111,801
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	20,995	18,726	37,280	35,804
Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	240,526	217,516	356,235	337,056
Net Sales	218,703	198,215	325,236	308,402
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	57,283	47,717	45,517	33,753
Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	75,168	60,442	134,988	116,184
Net Sales	70,725	55,261	126,106	106,584
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	(1,302)	(5,176)	(7,413)	(13,563)
West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	286,811	222,024	477,598	370,420
Net Sales	250,589	197,224	411,004	324,603
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	30,873	16,395	32,954	8,270
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	$ (11,608)	$ (8,027)	$ (27,994)	$ (17,950)