diff --git a/src/drt/CMakeLists.txt b/src/drt/CMakeLists.txt
index e377ba29186..0ae04d5437c 100644
--- a/src/drt/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/drt/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -143,12 +143,11 @@ target_include_directories(drt_lib
 
 target_link_libraries(drt_lib
   PUBLIC
-    odb
-    stt
+    stt_lib
     OpenSTA
     utl_lib
     dst
-    dbSta
+    dbSta_lib
     Threads::Threads
     OpenMP::OpenMP_CXX
     ${Boost_LIBRARIES}
diff --git a/src/drt/include/triton_route/TritonRoute.h b/src/drt/include/triton_route/TritonRoute.h
index 31330b6dd79..08bf7e6ec26 100644
--- a/src/drt/include/triton_route/TritonRoute.h
+++ b/src/drt/include/triton_route/TritonRoute.h
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include <tcl.h>
-
 #include <boost/asio/thread_pool.hpp>
 #include <list>
 #include <memory>
@@ -52,10 +50,6 @@ namespace utl {
 class Logger;
 }
 
-namespace gui {
-class Gui;
-}
-
 namespace stt {
 class SteinerTreeBuilder;
 }
@@ -102,6 +96,7 @@ struct ParamStruct
   int minAccessPoints = -1;
   bool saveGuideUpdates = false;
   std::string repairPDNLayerName;
+  int num_threads;
 };
 
 class TritonRoute
@@ -177,15 +172,15 @@ class TritonRoute
   void updateGlobals(const char* file_name);
   void resetDb(const char* file_name);
   void clearDesign();
-  void updateDesign(const std::vector<std::string>& updates);
-  void updateDesign(const std::string& path);
+  void updateDesign(const std::vector<std::string>& updates, int num_threads);
+  void updateDesign(const std::string& path, int num_threads);
   void addWorkerResults(
       const std::vector<std::pair<int, std::string>>& results);
   bool getWorkerResults(std::vector<std::pair<int, std::string>>& results);
   int getWorkerResultsSize();
   void sendDesignDist();
   bool writeGlobals(const std::string& name);
-  void sendDesignUpdates(const std::string& router_cfg_path);
+  void sendDesignUpdates(const std::string& router_cfg_path, int num_threads);
   void sendGlobalsUpdates(const std::string& router_cfg_path,
                           const std::string& serializedViaData);
   void reportDRC(const std::string& file_name,
@@ -197,11 +192,12 @@ class TritonRoute
                 int y1,
                 int x2,
                 int y2,
-                const std::string& marker_name);
+                const std::string& marker_name,
+                int num_threads);
   bool initGuide();
   void prep();
   odb::dbDatabase* getDb() const { return db_; }
-  void fixMaxSpacing();
+  void fixMaxSpacing(int num_threads);
 
  private:
   std::unique_ptr<frDesign> design_;
@@ -213,7 +209,6 @@ class TritonRoute
   std::unique_ptr<FlexDR> dr_;  // kept for single stepping
   stt::SteinerTreeBuilder* stt_builder_{nullptr};
   int num_drvs_{-1};
-  gui::Gui* gui_{nullptr};
   dst::Distributed* dist_{nullptr};
   bool distributed_{false};
   std::string dist_ip_;
diff --git a/src/drt/src/GraphicsFactory.h b/src/drt/src/GraphicsFactory.h
index 5838684220d..1e1acddd696 100644
--- a/src/drt/src/GraphicsFactory.h
+++ b/src/drt/src/GraphicsFactory.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class GraphicsFactory : public AbstractGraphicsFactory
 {
  public:
   GraphicsFactory();
-  ~GraphicsFactory();
+  ~GraphicsFactory() override;
   void reset(frDebugSettings* settings,
              frDesign* design,
              odb::dbDatabase* db,
diff --git a/src/drt/src/TritonRoute.cpp b/src/drt/src/TritonRoute.cpp
index d28f3eb40a7..252ce1f3d7e 100644
--- a/src/drt/src/TritonRoute.cpp
+++ b/src/drt/src/TritonRoute.cpp
@@ -48,11 +48,9 @@
 #include "gc/FlexGC.h"
 #include "global.h"
 #include "gr/FlexGR.h"
-#include "gui/gui.h"
 #include "io/GuideProcessor.h"
 #include "io/io.h"
 #include "odb/dbShape.h"
-#include "ord/OpenRoad.hh"
 #include "pa/AbstractPAGraphics.h"
 #include "pa/FlexPA.h"
 #include "rp/FlexRP.h"
@@ -61,14 +59,14 @@
 #include "stt/SteinerTreeBuilder.h"
 #include "ta/AbstractTAGraphics.h"
 #include "ta/FlexTA.h"
+#include "utl/ScopedTemporaryFile.h"
 
 namespace drt {
 
 TritonRoute::TritonRoute()
     : debug_(std::make_unique<frDebugSettings>()),
       db_callback_(std::make_unique<DesignCallBack>(this)),
-      router_cfg_(std::make_unique<RouterConfiguration>()),
-      gui_(gui::Gui::get())
+      router_cfg_(std::make_unique<RouterConfiguration>())
 {
   if (distributed_) {
     dist_pool_.emplace(1);
@@ -306,8 +304,25 @@ void TritonRoute::updateGlobals(const char* file_name)
 
 void TritonRoute::resetDb(const char* file_name)
 {
+  std::ifstream stream;
+  stream.open(file_name, std::ios::binary);
+  try {
+    if (db_->getChip() && db_->getChip()->getBlock()) {
+      logger_->error(
+          DRT,
+          9947,
+          "You can't load a new db file as the db is already populated");
+    }
+
+    stream.exceptions(std::ifstream::failbit | std::ifstream::badbit
+                      | std::ios::eofbit);
+
+    db_->read(stream);
+  } catch (const std::ios_base::failure& f) {
+    logger_->error(
+        DRT, 9954, "odb file {} is invalid: {}", file_name, f.what());
+  }
   design_ = std::make_unique<frDesign>(logger_, router_cfg_.get());
-  ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->readDb(file_name);
   initDesign();
   if (!db_->getChip()->getBlock()->getAccessPoints().empty()) {
     initGuide();
@@ -345,9 +360,10 @@ static void deserializeUpdates(frDesign* design,
   file.close();
 }
 
-void TritonRoute::updateDesign(const std::vector<std::string>& updatesStrs)
+void TritonRoute::updateDesign(const std::vector<std::string>& updatesStrs,
+                               int num_threads)
 {
-  omp_set_num_threads(ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount());
+  omp_set_num_threads(num_threads);
   std::vector<std::vector<drUpdate>> updates(updatesStrs.size());
 #pragma omp parallel for schedule(dynamic)
   for (int i = 0; i < updatesStrs.size(); i++) {
@@ -356,9 +372,9 @@ void TritonRoute::updateDesign(const std::vector<std::string>& updatesStrs)
   applyUpdates(updates);
 }
 
-void TritonRoute::updateDesign(const std::string& path)
+void TritonRoute::updateDesign(const std::string& path, int num_threads)
 {
-  omp_set_num_threads(ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount());
+  omp_set_num_threads(num_threads);
   std::vector<std::vector<drUpdate>> updates;
   deserializeUpdates(design_.get(), path, updates);
   applyUpdates(updates);
@@ -830,7 +846,8 @@ void TritonRoute::sendDesignDist()
     std::string design_path = fmt::format("{}DESIGN.db", shared_volume_);
     std::string router_cfg_path
         = fmt::format("{}DESIGN.router_cfg", shared_volume_);
-    ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->writeDb(design_path.c_str());
+
+    db_->write(utl::StreamHandler(design_path.c_str(), true).getStream());
     writeGlobals(router_cfg_path);
     dst::JobMessage msg(dst::JobMessage::UPDATE_DESIGN,
                         dst::JobMessage::BROADCAST),
@@ -884,7 +901,8 @@ void TritonRoute::sendGlobalsUpdates(const std::string& router_cfg_path,
   }
 }
 
-void TritonRoute::sendDesignUpdates(const std::string& router_cfg_path)
+void TritonRoute::sendDesignUpdates(const std::string& router_cfg_path,
+                                    int num_threads)
 {
   if (!distributed_) {
     return;
@@ -899,7 +917,7 @@ void TritonRoute::sendDesignUpdates(const std::string& router_cfg_path)
     serializeTask = std::make_unique<ProfileTask>("DIST: SERIALIZE_UPDATES");
   }
   const auto& designUpdates = design_->getUpdates();
-  omp_set_num_threads(router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS);
+  omp_set_num_threads(num_threads);
   std::vector<std::string> updates(designUpdates.size());
 #pragma omp parallel for schedule(dynamic)
   for (int i = 0; i < designUpdates.size(); i++) {
@@ -947,7 +965,6 @@ int TritonRoute::main()
         = fmt::format("{}/init_router_cfg.bin", debug_->dumpDir);
     writeGlobals(router_cfg_path);
   }
-  router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount();
   if (distributed_) {
     if (router_cfg_->DO_PA) {
       asio::post(pa_pool, [this]() {
@@ -1003,8 +1020,9 @@ int TritonRoute::main()
     }
   }
   if (debug_->debugDumpDR) {
-    ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->writeDb(
-        fmt::format("{}/design.odb", debug_->dumpDir).c_str());
+    db_->write(utl::StreamHandler(
+                   fmt::format("{}/design.odb", debug_->dumpDir).c_str(), true)
+                   .getStream());
   }
   if (!initGuide()) {
     gr();
@@ -1018,7 +1036,7 @@ int TritonRoute::main()
   ta();
   if (distributed_) {
     asio::post(*dist_pool_,
-               boost::bind(&TritonRoute::sendDesignUpdates, this, ""));
+               [this] { sendDesignUpdates("", router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS); });
   }
   dr();
   if (!router_cfg_->SINGLE_STEP_DR) {
@@ -1042,7 +1060,6 @@ void TritonRoute::pinAccess(const std::vector<odb::dbInst*>& target_insts)
     });
   }
   clearDesign();
-  router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount();
   router_cfg_->ENABLE_VIA_GEN = true;
   initDesign();
   FlexPA pa(getDesign(), logger_, dist_, router_cfg_.get());
@@ -1059,11 +1076,12 @@ void TritonRoute::pinAccess(const std::vector<odb::dbInst*>& target_insts)
   writer.updateDb(db_, router_cfg_.get(), true);
 }
 
-void TritonRoute::fixMaxSpacing()
+void TritonRoute::fixMaxSpacing(int num_threads)
 {
   initDesign();
   initGuide();
   prep();
+  router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS = num_threads;
   dr_ = std::make_unique<FlexDR>(
       this, getDesign(), logger_, db_, router_cfg_.get());
   dr_->init();
@@ -1075,7 +1093,6 @@ void TritonRoute::fixMaxSpacing()
 void TritonRoute::getDRCMarkers(frList<std::unique_ptr<frMarker>>& markers,
                                 const Rect& requiredDrcBox)
 {
-  router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount();
   std::vector<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<FlexGCWorker>>> workersBatches(1);
   auto size = 7;
   auto offset = 0;
@@ -1143,10 +1160,12 @@ void TritonRoute::checkDRC(const char* filename,
                            int y1,
                            int x2,
                            int y2,
-                           const std::string& marker_name)
+                           const std::string& marker_name,
+                           int num_threads)
 {
   router_cfg_->GC_IGNORE_PDN_LAYER_NUM = -1;
   router_cfg_->REPAIR_PDN_LAYER_NUM = -1;
+  router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS = num_threads;
   initDesign();
   auto gcellGrid = db_->getChip()->getBlock()->getGCellGrid();
   if (gcellGrid != nullptr && gcellGrid->getNumGridPatternsX() == 1
@@ -1238,6 +1257,7 @@ void TritonRoute::setParams(const ParamStruct& params)
   }
   router_cfg_->SAVE_GUIDE_UPDATES = params.saveGuideUpdates;
   router_cfg_->REPAIR_PDN_LAYER_NAME = params.repairPDNLayerName;
+  router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS = params.num_threads;
 }
 
 void TritonRoute::addWorkerResults(
diff --git a/src/drt/src/TritonRoute.i b/src/drt/src/TritonRoute.i
index 6adab877379..e9436aa3e1c 100644
--- a/src/drt/src/TritonRoute.i
+++ b/src/drt/src/TritonRoute.i
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ void detailed_route_cmd(const char* outputMazeFile,
                         int drcReportIterStep)
 {
   auto* router = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getTritonRoute();
+  const int num_threads = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount();
   std::optional<int> drcReportIterStepOpt;
   if (drcReportIterStep > 0) {
     drcReportIterStepOpt = drcReportIterStep;
@@ -124,7 +125,8 @@ void detailed_route_cmd(const char* outputMazeFile,
                     singleStepDR,
                     minAccessPoints,
                     saveGuideUpdates,
-                    repairPDNLayerName});
+                    repairPDNLayerName,
+                    num_threads});
   router->main();
   router->setDistributed(false);
 }
@@ -142,6 +144,7 @@ void pin_access_cmd(const char* dbProcessNode,
   params.topRoutingLayer = topRoutingLayer;
   params.verbose = verbose;
   params.minAccessPoints = minAccessPoints;
+  params.num_threads = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount();
   router->setParams(params);
   router->pinAccess();
   router->setDistributed(false);
@@ -207,7 +210,8 @@ run_worker_cmd(const char* dump_dir, const char* worker_dir, const char* drc_rpt
   auto* router = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getTritonRoute();
   router->updateGlobals(fmt::format("{}/init_router_cfg.bin", dump_dir).c_str());
   router->resetDb(fmt::format("{}/design.odb", dump_dir).c_str());
-  router->updateDesign(fmt::format("{}/{}/updates.bin", dump_dir, worker_dir).c_str());
+  const int num_threads = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount();
+  router->updateDesign(fmt::format("{}/{}/updates.bin", dump_dir, worker_dir).c_str(), num_threads);
   router->updateGlobals(fmt::format("{}/{}/worker_router_cfg.bin", dump_dir, worker_dir).c_str());
   
   router->debugSingleWorker(fmt::format("{}/{}", dump_dir, worker_dir), drc_rpt);
@@ -231,7 +235,8 @@ void detailed_route_step_drt(int size,
 void fix_max_spacing_cmd()
 {
   auto* router = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getTritonRoute();
-  router->fixMaxSpacing();
+  const int num_threads = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount();
+  router->fixMaxSpacing(num_threads);
 }
 void step_end()
 {
@@ -242,6 +247,7 @@ void step_end()
 void check_drc_cmd(const char* drc_file, int x1, int y1, int x2, int y2, const char* marker_name)
 {
   auto* router = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getTritonRoute();
-  router->checkDRC(drc_file, x1, y1, x2, y2, marker_name);
+  const int num_threads = ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount();
+  router->checkDRC(drc_file, x1, y1, x2, y2, marker_name, num_threads);
 }
 %} // inline
diff --git a/src/drt/src/distributed/RoutingCallBack.h b/src/drt/src/distributed/RoutingCallBack.h
index 945949d4777..7b16f1baff0 100644
--- a/src/drt/src/distributed/RoutingCallBack.h
+++ b/src/drt/src/distributed/RoutingCallBack.h
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@
 #include "dst/JobCallBack.h"
 #include "dst/JobMessage.h"
 #include "global.h"
-#include "ord/OpenRoad.hh"
 #include "pa/FlexPA.h"
 #include "triton_route/TritonRoute.h"
 #include "utl/Logger.h"
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ class RoutingCallBack : public dst::JobCallBack
         = static_cast<RoutingJobDescription*>(msg.getJobDescription());
     if (init_) {
       init_ = false;
-      omp_set_num_threads(ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount());
+      omp_set_num_threads(router_->getRouterConfiguration()->MAX_THREADS);
     }
     auto workers = desc->getWorkers();
     int size = workers.size();
@@ -138,7 +137,8 @@ class RoutingCallBack : public dst::JobCallBack
       frTime t;
       logger_->report("Design Update");
       if (desc->isDesignUpdate()) {
-        router_->updateDesign(desc->getUpdates());
+        router_->updateDesign(desc->getUpdates(),
+                              router_->getRouterConfiguration()->MAX_THREADS);
       } else {
         router_->resetDb(desc->getDesignPath().c_str());
       }
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class RoutingCallBack : public dst::JobCallBack
         break;
       case PinAccessJobDescription::INST_ROWS: {
         auto instRows = deserializeInstRows(desc->getPath());
-        omp_set_num_threads(ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount());
+        omp_set_num_threads(router_->getRouterConfiguration()->MAX_THREADS);
 #pragma omp parallel for schedule(dynamic)
         for (int i = 0; i < instRows.size(); i++) {  // NOLINT
           pa_.genInstRowPattern(instRows.at(i));
diff --git a/src/drt/src/dr/FlexDR.cpp b/src/drt/src/dr/FlexDR.cpp
index ffe9a884865..2f8eb3a6fe0 100644
--- a/src/drt/src/dr/FlexDR.cpp
+++ b/src/drt/src/dr/FlexDR.cpp
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@
 #include "frProfileTask.h"
 #include "gc/FlexGC.h"
 #include "io/io.h"
-#include "ord/OpenRoad.hh"
 #include "serialization.h"
+#include "utl/ScopedTemporaryFile.h"
 #include "utl/exception.h"
 
 BOOST_CLASS_EXPORT(drt::RoutingJobDescription)
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ void FlexDR::processWorkersBatchDistributed(
     serializeViaData(via_data_, serializedViaData);
     router_->sendGlobalsUpdates(router_cfg_path_, serializedViaData);
   } else {
-    router_->sendDesignUpdates(router_cfg_path_);
+    router_->sendDesignUpdates(router_cfg_path_, router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS);
   }
 
   ProfileTask task("DIST: PROCESS_BATCH");
@@ -1782,7 +1782,7 @@ std::vector<frVia*> FlexDR::getLonelyVias(frLayer* layer,
   std::vector<std::atomic_bool> visited(via_positions.size());
   std::fill(visited.begin(), visited.end(), false);
   std::set<int> isolated_via_nodes;
-  omp_set_num_threads(ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->getThreadCount());
+  omp_set_num_threads(router_cfg_->MAX_THREADS);
 #pragma omp parallel for schedule(dynamic)
   for (int i = 0; i < via_positions.size(); i++) {
     if (visited[i].load()) {
@@ -1875,8 +1875,10 @@ int FlexDR::main()
     if (logger_->debugCheck(DRT, "snapshot", 1)) {
       io::Writer writer(getDesign(), logger_);
       writer.updateDb(db_, router_cfg_, false, true);
-      ord::OpenRoad::openRoad()->writeDb(
-          fmt::format("drt_iter{}.odb", iter_).c_str());
+
+      db_->write(
+          utl::StreamHandler(fmt::format("drt_iter{}.odb", iter_).c_str(), true)
+              .getStream());
     }
     ++iter_;
   }
diff --git a/src/drt/src/dr/FlexDR_graphics.cpp b/src/drt/src/dr/FlexDR_graphics.cpp
index 775e30e7be6..88b3d934ffb 100644
--- a/src/drt/src/dr/FlexDR_graphics.cpp
+++ b/src/drt/src/dr/FlexDR_graphics.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 
 #include "../gc/FlexGC.h"
 #include "FlexDR.h"
-#include "ord/OpenRoad.hh"
 
 namespace drt {
 
diff --git a/src/drt/test/drt_aux.py b/src/drt/test/drt_aux.py
index e140654feb8..8d69dfd3590 100644
--- a/src/drt/test/drt_aux.py
+++ b/src/drt/test/drt_aux.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ def detailed_route(
     params.singleStepDR = single_step_dr
     params.minAccessPoints = min_access_points
     params.saveGuideUpdates = save_guide_updates
+    params.num_threads = 1
 
     router.setParams(params)
     router.main()
diff --git a/src/grt/CMakeLists.txt b/src/grt/CMakeLists.txt
index bac726fef56..12aca84a1f2 100644
--- a/src/grt/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/grt/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ target_include_directories(grt
 target_link_libraries(grt
     grt_lib
     utl_lib
+    drt_lib
     FastRoute4.1
     ant_lib
     dpl_lib
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@ if (Python3_FOUND AND BUILD_PYTHON)
     PUBLIC
       utl_lib
       FastRoute4.1
+      drt_lib
       ant_lib
       dpl_lib
       dbSta