content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001719950</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000861459</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INC</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-12911</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>585 WEST BEACH ST</com:street1>
          <com:city>WATSONVILLE</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>95076</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>8317241011</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Larkin, Kyle T</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON STOCK</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>MERRILL LYNCH</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>555 CAPITOL MALL</com:street1>
            <com:street2>STE 1400</com:street2>
            <com:city>SACRAMENTO</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>95814</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>22999</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>1859059</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>43434583</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>04/29/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON STOCK</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>03/24/2025</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>VESTED RESTRICTED SHARES</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INC</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>22999</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>03/24/2025</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>STOCK BONUS</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>LARKIN, KYLE T</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>585 WEST BEACH ST</com:street1>
            <com:city>WATSONVILLE</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>95076</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON STOCK</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>04/24/2025</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>6808</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>544640</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>04/29/2025</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>12/12/2024</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>Kyle T Larkin</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3503}]
text: 144
  0001719950
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000861459
  GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INC
  001-12911
  585 WEST BEACH ST
  WATSONVILLE
  CA
  95076
  8317241011
  Larkin, Kyle T
  Officer
  COMMON STOCK
  MERRILL LYNCH
  555 CAPITOL MALL
  STE 1400
  SACRAMENTO
  CA
  95814
  22999
  1859059
  43434583
  04/29/2025
  NYSE
  COMMON STOCK
  03/24/2025
  VESTED RESTRICTED SHARES
  GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INC
  N
  22999
  03/24/2025
  STOCK BONUS
  N
  LARKIN, KYLE T
  585 WEST BEACH ST
  WATSONVILLE
  CA
  95076
  COMMON STOCK
  04/24/2025
  6808
  544640
  04/29/2025
  12/12/2024
  Kyle T Larkin