<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-03-13</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001448615</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CURTIS LISA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>585 WEST BEACH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WATSONVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95076</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-03-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>211</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40.41</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16934</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares surrendered for taxes due to vesting on March 13, 2023 (initial grant date 3/13/20).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Total adjusted to include dividend equivalents (DEUs: 35 - 1/13/23) credited to the Reporting Person under the dividend reinvestment feature of Granite Construction Incorporated's equity plans since the Reporting Person's last report and shares purchased pursuant to the Granite Construction Incorporated 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Program (the &quot;Purchase Plan&quot;), purchases of 402 shares on 6/14/22 and 328 shares on 12/14/22.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Betty Kwong, attorney-in-fact for Elizabeth L. Curtis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-03-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
