A method for defining routes in a design layout with at least one particular wiring layer that has at least two regions (200, 300) with different local preferred wiring directions (210, 305). The method then uses the differing local preferred wiring directions (205, 215) to define a detailed route on the wiring layer. In some embodiments, the method defines a first route (210) that traverse first (200) and second regions (300) between two layers by using a first via that has a first pad in the second region.