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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 item | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Nov. 30, 2011
General matters |  |  |  |  |
Minimum liquidation period of assets in which significant working capital has been invested | 1 year |  |  |  |
Foreign operations |  |  |  |  |
Assets in Canada | $ 10,335,000 | $ 9,385,000 |  |  |
Functional currencies and foreign currency translation |  |  |  |  |
Foreign exchange gain (loss) | (36,000) | (96,000) | 250,000 |  |
Partnerships and joint ventures |  |  |  |  |
Number of VIE whose financial results are consolidated | 1 |  |  |  |
Cash concentration |  |  |  |  |
Cash balances | 157,551,000 | 120,306,000 | 115,437,000 | 90,004,000 |
Short term CDARS |  | 28,000,000 |  |  |
Treasury bill funds | 4,600,000 | 4,600,000 |  |  |
Cash balances with various financial institutions that are backed by the federal government FDIC program | 153,000,000 | 87,700,000 |  |  |
Collective bargaining agreements |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of labor force subject to collective bargaining agreements | 37.00% |  |  |  |
Number of collective bargaining agreements | 72 |  |  |  |
Number of collective bargaining agreements requiring renegotiation during the year | 19 |  |  |  |
Multiemployer Plans |  |  |  |  |
Withdrawal liability recorded | 7,500,000 | 5,000,000 |  |  | 7,500,000
Expense recorded as a result of increase in withdrawal liability | 2,500,000 |  |  |  |
Worker's compensation insurance |  |  |  |  |
Self insurance reserve | 16,547,000 | 13,809,000 |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | 432,000 | 363,000 |  |  |
Other contract forms |  |  |  |  |
Provision for estimated loss on uncompleted contracts | 764,000 | 917,000 |  |  |
Significant revisions in contract estimates |  |  |  |  |
Increase in gross profit earned, if revised estimates had been applied in prior year |  | $ 8,185,000 | $ 10,244,000 | $ 9,892,000 |
Increase in per diluted share, if revised estimates had been applied in prior year |  | $ 0.10 | $ 0.12 | $ 0.13 |

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