This　paper　proposes　a　fuzzy　group　decision　making　(FGDM)　approach　for　bridge　risk　assessment.　The　FGDM　approach　allows　decision　makers　(DMs)　to　evaluate　bridge　risk　factors　using　linguistic　terms　such　as　Certain,　Very　High,　High,　Slightly　High,　Medium,　Slightly　Low,　Low,　Very　Low　or　None　rather　than　precise　numerical　values,　allows　them　to　express　their　opinions　independently,　and　also　provides　two　alternative　algorithms　to　aggregate　the　assessments　of　multiple　bridge　risk　factors,　one　of　which　offers　a　rapid　assessment　and　the　other　one　leads　to　an　exact　assessment.　A　case　study　is　investigated　using　the　FGDM　approach　to　illustrate　its　applications　in　bridge　risk　assessment.　It　is　shown　that　the　FGDM　approach　offers　a　flexible,　practical　and　effective　way　of　modelling　bridge　risks.　©　2007　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.