Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Corporations Reportable Business Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 788,734	$ 691,347
Net Sales	733,960	631,876
Earnings (Loss) from Operations	83,769	25,571
Aggregates Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	651,013	526,083
Net Sales	604,582	476,557
Earnings (Loss) from Operations	60,192	8,748
Operating Segments | Mid-America Group | Aggregates Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	186,347	140,834
Net Sales	173,372	129,705
Earnings (Loss) from Operations	14,424	(4,203)
Operating Segments | Southeast Group | Aggregates Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	71,671	64,678
Net Sales	67,284	59,770
Earnings (Loss) from Operations	6,971	(1,548)
Operating Segments | West Group | Aggregates Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	392,995	320,571
Net Sales	363,926	287,082
Earnings (Loss) from Operations	38,797	14,499
Operating Segments | Cement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	73,551	102,100
Net Sales	69,873	96,565
Earnings (Loss) from Operations	26,316	12,229
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	64,170	63,164
Net Sales	59,505	58,754
Earnings (Loss) from Operations	20,563	17,789
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from Operations	$ (23,302)	$ (13,195)