Business Segments (Financial Data For Continuing Operations For The Corporation's Reportable Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues, Total	$ 393,979	$ 327,943
Net sales, Total	350,537	290,636
(Loss) Earnings from operations, Total	(35,324)	(4,448)
Total Aggregates Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues, Total	337,676	274,345
Net sales, Total	298,821	241,495
(Loss) Earnings from operations, Total	(23,453)	(14,818)
Specialty Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues, Total	56,303	53,598
Net sales, Total	51,716	49,141
(Loss) Earnings from operations, Total	18,221	15,129
Mideast Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues, Total	84,444	76,080
Net sales, Total	77,184	71,340
(Loss) Earnings from operations, Total	(850)	2,052
Southeast Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues, Total	73,512	67,579
Net sales, Total	67,526	62,709
(Loss) Earnings from operations, Total	(3,728)	(4,197)
West Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues, Total	179,720	130,686
Net sales, Total	154,111	107,446
(Loss) Earnings from operations, Total	(18,875)	(12,673)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
(Loss) Earnings from operations, Total	$ (30,092)	$ (4,759)