A close-up photo by Geoffrey Neal of an Ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana) tree on East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, N.C. The bark is dappled shades of gray and white with pale green lichen growing on it, too. The tree's sinewy texture is just visible. In the background are the street, some cars, a few other trees and brick storefronts against a bright blue spring sky.

The UNC Visitors Center, located at 134 East Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill, was evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to a gas leak. The Chapel Hill Fire Department initially responded to a report of the leak at 2:54 p.m., then began evacuating the building upon its arrival.

A spokesperson for Enbridge Gas, which provides natural gas to the Chapel Hill area, confirmed to Chapelboro that car damaged a natural gas meter and caused the leak.

According to a release from the Town of Chapel Hill, the leak has been stopped and firefighters expect to be able to let people return to the building soon. During the leak, eastbound lanes on East Franklin Street were briefly closed but have since reopened. Traffic patterns on Franklin Street have returned to normal.

The UNC Visitors Center first opened its doors on Franklin Street in early 2020. It was previously located in Morehead Planetarium, but moved out due to planned renovations.

 

Featured image via Geoffrey Neal

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Local NAACP Vice President Wins Citizenship Award
Vice President for the Chapel Hill – Carrboro NAACP James Williams received a citizenship award at UNC’s annual Martin Luther King Memorial Banquet earlier this month. Williams says 50 years after King’s assassination, he can still feel the impact the civil rights hero has had on his life. “It was indeed an honor to receive […]
Combination Jimmy John's, Baskin-Robbins Store Coming to West Franklin Street
A combination Jimmy John’s and Baskin-Robbins store will soon open on West Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill. The store is located at 143 West Franklin Street, Suite 90, in the same building which houses Target. The suite was most recently occupied by pūrvelo cycle. Currently, neither Jimmy John’s nor Baskin-Robbins have any open stores […]
On Air Today: High School Poet Milagros Secena, Heading to ACT-SO Nationals
Aaron welcomes Carrboro High School student Milagros Secena, who's heading to a national poetry competition hosted by the NAACP.
Pair of W. Franklin Street Restaurants Permanently Shutter in May
The Central American restaurant The Latin Effect closed on May 28, while Rams Corner closed to Franklin Street customers earlier in the month.
May 23, 2026
This week, Dr. Deborah Stroman discuss the NAACP's Out of Bounds campaign in college sports.
Crumbl Cookies Closes Chapel Hill Location After 3 Years In Business
The store, located in Suite 150 at 133 West Franklin St., first opened its doors in February of 2023. It was open for just over three years.
Al's Burger Shack Hailed as 'Best Cheeseburger in North Carolina'
The website Fast Food Club named Al’s Burger Shack in Chapel Hill as the best cheeseburger in North Carolina in a new list, which sought the best cheeseburger in every state. “The beef is locally sourced, the toppings are creative and seasonally inspired, and every burger is cooked with the kind of attention usually reserved […]
Supreme Court Hollows Out a Landmark Law That Had Protected Minority Voting Rights for 6 Decades
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court knocked out a major pillar of the Voting Rights Act that had protected against racial discrimination in voting and representation.
On Air Today: Supporting West Chapel Hill Businesses Through Street Construction
Lapin Blue owner Mike Benson, Baxter Bar and Arcade owner Nick Stroude, and Franklin Real Estate's Sammy Martin spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, February 24. They discussed some of the challenges facing Midway area businesses with recent construction on Rosemary St. They highlighted the appeal of the Midway district's locally owned businesses and "old Chapel Hill" vibe, and more.
Chapel Hill: UNC Visitors Center Evacuated Due to Gas Leak
The UNC Visitors Center, located at 134 East Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill, was evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to a gas leak. The Chapel Hill Fire Department initially responded to a report of the leak at 2:54 p.m., then began evacuating the building upon its arrival. A spokesperson for Enbridge Gas, which provides natural […]
›