<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001185112-12-000007.txt : 20120702
<SEC-HEADER>0001185112-12-000007.hdr.sgml : 20120702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120702182132
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001185112-12-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120621
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120702
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120702

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NIEBLA JESUS FERNANDO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185112

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12911
		FILM NUMBER:		12941558

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 50085
		CITY:			WATSONVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95077-5085

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000861459
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HEAVY CONSTRUCTION OTHER THAN BUILDING CONST - CONTRACTORS [1600]
		IRS NUMBER:				770239383
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		585 WEST BEACH ST
		CITY:			WATSONVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95076
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8317241011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		585 WEST BEACH ST
		CITY:			WATSONVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95076
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-06-21</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185112</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIEBLA JESUS FERNANDO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>585 W. BEACH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WATSONVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95076</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>527</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17857.3276</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>527</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>527</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard A. Watts, Attorney-In-Fact, for J. Fernando Niebla</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>niebla110911poa.htm
<DESCRIPTION>LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR SECTION 16(A) REPORTING
<TEXT>
<HTML><BODY><PRE>LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

FOR SECTION 16(a) REPORTING



 KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints James H. Roberts, Terry K. Eller, Richard A. Watts and Nancy Valek-Corbett, and each of them, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact (the "Attorney-in Fact"), with full power of substitution and re-substitution, each with the power to act alone for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to:



 1. prepare, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any national securities exchange or securities quotation system and Granite Construction Incorporated (the "Company") any and all reports (including any amendment thereto) of the undersigned required or considered advisable under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and the rules and regulations thereunder, with respect to the equity securities of the Company, including Forms 3, 4 and 5; and



 2. obtain, as the undersigned's representative and on the undersigned's behalf, information regarding transactions in the Company's equity securities from any third party, including the Company and any brokers, dealers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby authorizes any such third party to release any such information to the Attorney-in-Fact.



 The undersigned acknowledges that:



 1. this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, the Attorney-in-Fact to act at his or her discretion on information provided to such Attorney-in-Fact without independent verification of such information;



 2. any documents prepared or executed by the Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information as the Attorney-in-Fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;



 3. neither the Company nor the Attorney-in-Fact assumes any liability for the undersigned's responsibility to comply with the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such requirements, or any liability of the undersigned for disgorgement of profits under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and



 4. this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the undersigned's obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, including, without, limitation, the reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.



 The undersigned hereby grants to the Attorney-in-Fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite, necessary or convenient to be done in connection with the foregoing, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the Attorney-in-Fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by authority of this Limited Power of Attorney.



 The execution by the undersigned of this Limited Power of Attorney hereby expressly revokes and terminates any powers of attorney previously granted by the undersigned with respect to the preparation, execution and filing of reports of the undersigned under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the equity securities of the Company.  This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 4 or 5 with respect to the undersigned's transactions in equity securities of the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the Attorney-in-Fact.



 This Limited Power of Attorney shall be governed and construed in accordance the laws of the State of California without regard to conflict-of-law principles.



 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Limited Power of Attorney as of this 9th day of November 2011.







Signature: /s/ J. Fernando Niebla



Printed Name:  J. Fernando Niebla

</PRE></BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
