Disclosed is a method and system for inserting redundant paths into an
integrated circuit. Particularly, the invention provides a method for
identifying a single via in a first path connecting two elements,
determining if an alternate route is available for connecting the two
elements (other than a redundant via), and for inserting a second path
into the available alternate route. The combination of the first and
second paths provides greater redundancy than inserting a redundant via
alone. More importantly, such redundant paths provide for redundancy when
congestion prevents a redundant via from being inserted adjacent to the
single via. An embodiment of the method further comprises removing the
single via and any redundant wire segments, if all of the additional vias
used to form the second path can be made redundant.