The bridge crosses Choctawhatchee Bay, part of the Intracoastal Waterway.

It was constructed in 1992-93, when the Florida Department of Transportation recognized the growing need for a more direct route between the Destin beaches and the mainland for tourists and to assist hurricane evacuation from population centers and resorts on the Gulf of Mexico.

[2] The Spence Parkway is an, 11-mile, limited access, 2-lane, separately tolled highway that connects the north end of the Mid-Bay Bridge with SR 85 immediately north of Niceville, Florida.

The Parkway provides considerably shorter travel times by avoiding 13 traffic signals along the previous route through Niceville on SR 20.

Tolls are collected with SunPass transponders or by using a new TOLL-BY-PLATE program being implemented statewide by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise.