The　traditional　analytic　hierarchy　process　(AHP)　method　can　only　compare　a　very　limited　number　of　decision　alternatives,　which　is　usually　not　more　than　15.　When　there　are　hundreds　or　thousands　of　alternatives　to　be　compared,　the　pairwise　comparison　manner　provided　by　the　traditional　AHP　is　obviously　infeasible.　In　this　paper　we　propose　an　integrated　AHP-DEA　methodology　to　evaluate　bridge　risks　of　hundreds　or　thousands　of　bridge　structures,　based　on　which　the　maintenance　priorities　of　the　bridge　structures　can　be　decided.　The　proposed　AHP-DEA　methodology　uses　the　AHP　to　determine　the　weights　of　criteria,　linguistic　terms　such　as　High,　Medium,　Low　and　None　to　assess　bridge　risks　under　each　criterion,　the　data　envelopment　analysis　(DEA)　method　to　determine　the　values　of　the　linguistic　terms,　and　the　simple　additive　weighting　(SAW)　method　to　aggregate　bridge　risks　under　different　criteria　into　an　overall　risk　score　for　each　bridge　structure.　The　integrated　AHP-DEA　methodology　is　applicable　to　any　number　of　decision　alternatives　and　is　illustrated　with　a　numerical　example.　©　2007　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.