Crossword Genius

Route to a possible thaw in pay restriction (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pathway

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'route' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'possible thaw in pay restriction' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
an anagram of 'thaw' is 'athw' which is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'pay' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'to a' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pathway that I've seen before include "A trodden track" , "Walking track" , "route? ..." .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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