Chapel Hill is expanding outdoor dining, pedestrian zones onto Franklin Street Posted Aug 1, 2020 Parts of Chapel Hill's Franklin Street will open up for walking and outdoor dining as the town shuts down a lane on each side of the road, town leaders said. Town leaders hope partially closing UNC’s main thoroughfare will boost business on Franklin Street after UNC sent its students home in March — and allow for more social distancing for pedestrians on sidewalks. (Raleigh News & Observer)