diff --git a/src/__Libraries/StellaOps.ElkSharp/ElkSharpLayoutInitialPlacement.cs b/src/__Libraries/StellaOps.ElkSharp/ElkSharpLayoutInitialPlacement.cs
index e807f2d1d..2796ca5d8 100644
--- a/src/__Libraries/StellaOps.ElkSharp/ElkSharpLayoutInitialPlacement.cs
+++ b/src/__Libraries/StellaOps.ElkSharp/ElkSharpLayoutInitialPlacement.cs
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ internal static class ElkSharpLayoutInitialPlacement
                 {
                     desiredY[nodeIndex] = nodeIndex * (slotHeight + gridNodeSpacing);
                 }
+
             }
 
             for (var nodeIndex = 1; nodeIndex < layer.Length; nodeIndex++)
@@ -118,6 +119,38 @@ internal static class ElkSharpLayoutInitialPlacement
         ElkNodePlacementAlignment.PropagateSuccessorPositionBackward(
             positionedNodes, outgoingNodeIds, nodesById, options.Direction);
 
+        // Final routing-clearance enforcement: after all refinement converged,
+        // push connected nodes apart where the Y-gap is too tight for clean
+        // edge routing (< 12px). This is a one-shot nudge — no cascade.
+        if (options.Direction == ElkLayoutDirection.LeftToRight)
+        {
+            const double minRoutingClearance = 12d;
+            foreach (var nodeId in positionedNodes.Keys.ToArray())
+            {
+                if (!positionedNodes.TryGetValue(nodeId, out var srcNode)
+                    || !outgoingNodeIds.TryGetValue(nodeId, out var outgoing))
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                foreach (var tgtId in outgoing)
+                {
+                    if (!positionedNodes.TryGetValue(tgtId, out var tgtNode)
+                        || !augmentedNodesById.TryGetValue(tgtId, out var tgtSpec))
+                    {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
+                    var srcBottom = srcNode.Y + srcNode.Height;
+                    if (tgtNode.Y >= srcBottom && tgtNode.Y - srcBottom < minRoutingClearance)
+                    {
+                        positionedNodes[tgtId] = ElkLayoutHelpers.CreatePositionedNode(
+                            tgtSpec, tgtNode.X, srcBottom + minRoutingClearance, options.Direction);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         minNodeY = positionedNodes.Values.Min(n => n.Y);
         if (minNodeY < -0.01d)
         {