INDIANAPOLIS - In the near future, the city of Indianapolis will watch the new Henry Street bridge go up — part of a $43 million dollar project to connect downtown to west side neighborhoods. But to get there, crews must first finish digging up the past. That includes what brick pavers and rail lines remain of the once-largest electric freight terminal in the world that existed at the site a century ago. "There’s a lot of records in Indianapolis on the historic development of this parcel so it’s an interesting discovery but it’s just part of the story we’re beginning to tell," said Ryan Peterson with Stantec, part of the archaeology team leading the project. But it’s not the only historically significant discovery made during the bridge's pre-construction. Brandon Herget, director of the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, estimates roughly 650 human remains could be found by the time excavation is complete. "Because these are taxpayer dollars at the end of the day, we’re making the decision to go well above and beyond what is required by state law," Herget explained. "We're documenting everything appropriately and documenting everything transparently but DNA testing is not a part of that process at this time.” A few small bone fragments have been found so far, even older than the train tracks poking through the ground. That’s because the site also once belonged to Greenlawn Cemetery – the very first in Indianapolis, believed to be the largest burial site of African Americans in the state. "We found some of the names of the most significant black pioneers dating back to the very beginning of this cemetery, which is 1821," said Eunice Trotter, director of the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation program. Trotter was asked to be part of the community advisement group - helping the city make decisions about handling the remains now and in the long term. Based on her research so far, she said about 1,300 people could have been buried there. "But that’s only scratching the surface because the records are so bad," Trotter explained. "We can’t find records for a huge period. That's only for a nine-year period.” This is the first time Indy DPW has brought on a group of this kind to consult on an infrastructure project. It’s also got $12 million set aside just for archaeology. They haven’t decided yet where the remains will be moved to and ultimately memorialized, though. "Every cemetery is unique. It's a serious endeavor that we take with a lot of gravity when we’re out here working," Peterson added. "It's important we’re respectful of the individuals that were here, their ancestors and the story they have to tell.” The spot directly borders the site where Indy Eleven hopes to build a new stadium. Those private developers also found human remains, but there has not been an update on that project in months. If all goes to plan, DPW expects excavation to be done by spring, and the bridge to be finished by the end of 2026. Herget says they will keep the community updated on any additional discoveries and research on the project's website.