diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index f39624b317..ff10f534e9 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2566,6 +2566,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "pin-project-lite",
  "proto-gazette",
  "proto-grpc",
+ "rand 0.8.5",
  "reqwest",
  "serde_json",
  "simd-doc",
diff --git a/crates/agent/src/proxy_connectors.rs b/crates/agent/src/proxy_connectors.rs
index 642c6f9dad..f9473bc6a7 100644
--- a/crates/agent/src/proxy_connectors.rs
+++ b/crates/agent/src/proxy_connectors.rs
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ impl<L: runtime::LogHandler> ProxyConnectors<L> {
 
         let mut proxy_client =
             proto_grpc::runtime::connector_proxy_client::ConnectorProxyClient::with_interceptor(
-                gazette::dial_channel(reactor_address).await?,
+                gazette::dial_channel(reactor_address)?,
                 metadata.clone(),
             );
         let mut proxy_responses = proxy_client
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ impl<L: runtime::LogHandler> ProxyConnectors<L> {
         };
 
         Ok((
-            gazette::dial_channel(&address).await?,
+            gazette::dial_channel(&address)?,
             metadata,
             (cancel_tx, log_loop),
         ))
diff --git a/crates/gazette/Cargo.toml b/crates/gazette/Cargo.toml
index 94a4870f6d..1045a9976e 100644
--- a/crates/gazette/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/gazette/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ futures = { workspace = true }
 futures-core = { workspace = true }
 hyper-util = { workspace = true }
 jsonwebtoken = { workspace = true }
+rand = { workspace = true }
 reqwest = { workspace = true }
 thiserror = { workspace = true }
 tokio = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/gazette/src/journal/list.rs b/crates/gazette/src/journal/list.rs
index 142bcce412..dbfdc43b18 100644
--- a/crates/gazette/src/journal/list.rs
+++ b/crates/gazette/src/journal/list.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ impl Client {
         router: &crate::Router,
         req: &broker::ListRequest,
     ) -> crate::Result<tonic::Streaming<broker::ListResponse>> {
-        let mut client = self.into_sub(router.route(None, false, &self.default).await?);
+        let mut client = self.into_sub(router.route(None, false, &self.default)?);
         Ok(client.list(req.clone()).await?.into_inner())
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/gazette/src/journal/mod.rs b/crates/gazette/src/journal/mod.rs
index db47ad7c1d..1f800ef7b2 100644
--- a/crates/gazette/src/journal/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/gazette/src/journal/mod.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ impl Client {
 
     /// Invoke the Gazette journal Apply API.
     pub async fn apply(&self, req: broker::ApplyRequest) -> crate::Result<broker::ApplyResponse> {
-        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default).await?);
+        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default)?);
 
         let resp = client
             .apply(req)
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ impl Client {
         &self,
         req: broker::FragmentsRequest,
     ) -> crate::Result<broker::FragmentsResponse> {
-        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default).await?);
+        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default)?);
 
         let resp = client
             .list_fragments(req)
@@ -77,11 +77,13 @@ impl Client {
         check_ok(resp.status(), resp)
     }
 
-    fn into_sub(&self, channel: Channel) -> SubClient {
+    fn into_sub(&self, (channel, _local): (Channel, bool)) -> SubClient {
         proto_grpc::broker::journal_client::JournalClient::with_interceptor(
             channel,
             self.metadata.clone(),
         )
+        // TODO(johnny): Use `_local` to selectively enable LZ4 compression
+        // when traversing a non-local zone.
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/gazette/src/journal/read.rs b/crates/gazette/src/journal/read.rs
index ef50199fff..dd057de1ae 100644
--- a/crates/gazette/src/journal/read.rs
+++ b/crates/gazette/src/journal/read.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ impl Client {
         write_head: &mut i64,
     ) -> crate::Result<()> {
         let route = req.header.as_ref().and_then(|hdr| hdr.route.as_ref());
-        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(route, false, &self.default).await?);
+        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(route, false, &self.default)?);
 
         // Fetch metadata first before we start the actual read.
         req.metadata_only = true;
diff --git a/crates/gazette/src/lib.rs b/crates/gazette/src/lib.rs
index 5ed060f0b4..db36bb6910 100644
--- a/crates/gazette/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/gazette/src/lib.rs
@@ -77,13 +77,18 @@ impl Error {
 
 pub type Result<T> = std::result::Result<T, Error>;
 
-/// Dial a gRPC endpoint with opinionated defaults and
+/// Lazily dial a gRPC endpoint with opinionated defaults and
 /// support for TLS and Unix Domain Sockets.
-pub async fn dial_channel(endpoint: &str) -> Result<tonic::transport::Channel> {
+pub fn dial_channel(endpoint: &str) -> Result<tonic::transport::Channel> {
     use std::time::Duration;
 
     let ep = tonic::transport::Endpoint::from_shared(endpoint.to_string())
         .map_err(|_err| Error::InvalidEndpoint(endpoint.to_string()))?
+        // Note this connect_timeout accounts only for TCP connection time and
+        // does not apply to time required for TLS or HTTP/2 transport start,
+        // which can block indefinitely if the server is bound but not listening.
+        // Callers MUST implement per-RPC timeouts if that's important.
+        // This timeout is only a best-effort sanity check.
         .connect_timeout(Duration::from_secs(5))
         .keep_alive_timeout(Duration::from_secs(120))
         .keep_alive_while_idle(true)
@@ -93,17 +98,15 @@ pub async fn dial_channel(endpoint: &str) -> Result<tonic::transport::Channel> {
                 .assume_http2(true),
         )?;
 
-    let channel = match ep.uri().scheme_str() {
-        Some("unix") => {
-            ep.connect_with_connector(tower::util::service_fn(|uri: tonic::transport::Uri| {
-                connect_unix(uri)
-            }))
-            .await?
-        }
-        Some("https" | "http") => ep.connect().await?,
+    let channel =
+        match ep.uri().scheme_str() {
+            Some("unix") => ep.connect_with_connector_lazy(tower::util::service_fn(
+                |uri: tonic::transport::Uri| connect_unix(uri),
+            )),
+            Some("https" | "http") => ep.connect_lazy(),
 
-        _ => return Err(Error::InvalidEndpoint(endpoint.to_string())),
-    };
+            _ => return Err(Error::InvalidEndpoint(endpoint.to_string())),
+        };
 
     Ok(channel)
 }
diff --git a/crates/gazette/src/router.rs b/crates/gazette/src/router.rs
index 5564f4d3df..3125491a59 100644
--- a/crates/gazette/src/router.rs
+++ b/crates/gazette/src/router.rs
@@ -5,13 +5,6 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use tonic::transport::Channel;
 
-// DialState represents a Channel which may be:
-// - Ready (if Some)
-// - Currently being dialed (if locked)
-// - Neither (None and not locked).
-// Ready channels also track their number of uses since the last sweep.
-type DialState = Arc<futures::lock::Mutex<Option<(Channel, usize)>>>;
-
 /// Router facilitates dispatching requests to designated members of
 /// a dynamic serving topology, by maintaining ready Channels to
 /// member endpoints which may be dynamically discovered over time.
@@ -20,7 +13,7 @@ pub struct Router {
     inner: Arc<Inner>,
 }
 struct Inner {
-    states: std::sync::Mutex<HashMap<MemberId, DialState>>,
+    states: std::sync::Mutex<HashMap<MemberId, (Channel, bool)>>,
     zone: String,
 }
 
@@ -39,60 +32,39 @@ impl Router {
     }
 
     /// Map an optional broker::Route and indication of whether the "primary"
-    /// member is required into a ready Channel for use in the dispatch of an RPC.
+    /// member is required into a ready Channel for use in the dispatch of an RPC,
+    /// and a boolean which is set if and only if the Channel is in our local zone.
     ///
-    /// route() will prefer to send requests to a ready member Channel if possible,
-    /// or will dial new Channels if required by the `route` and `primary` requirement.
-    pub async fn route(
+    /// route() dial new Channels as required by the `route` and `primary` requirement.
+    /// Use sweep() to periodically clean up Channels which are no longer in use.
+    pub fn route(
         &self,
         route: Option<&broker::Route>,
         primary: bool,
         default: &MemberId,
-    ) -> Result<Channel, Error> {
-        let (index, state) = self.pick(route, primary, &default);
+    ) -> Result<(Channel, bool), Error> {
+        let index = pick(route, primary, &self.inner.zone);
 
-        // Acquire MemberId-specific, async-aware lock.
-        let mut state = state.lock().await;
+        let id = match index {
+            Some(index) => &route.unwrap().members[index],
+            None => default,
+        };
+        let mut states = self.inner.states.lock().unwrap();
 
-        // Fast path: client is dialed and ready.
-        if let Some((ref client, uses)) = &mut *state {
-            *uses += 1;
-            return Ok(client.clone());
+        // Is the channel already started?
+        if let Some((channel, mark)) = states.get_mut(id) {
+            *mark = true;
+            return Ok((channel.clone(), id.zone == self.inner.zone));
         }
 
-        // Slow path: start dialing the endpoint.
+        // Start dialing the endpoint.
         let channel = super::dial_channel(match index {
             Some(index) => &route.unwrap().endpoints[index],
             None => &default.suffix,
-        })
-        .await?;
+        })?;
+        states.insert(id.clone(), (channel.clone(), true));
 
-        *state = Some((channel.clone(), 1));
-
-        Ok(channel)
-    }
-
-    fn pick(
-        &self,
-        route: Option<&broker::Route>,
-        primary: bool,
-        default: &MemberId,
-    ) -> (Option<usize>, DialState) {
-        // Acquire non-async lock which *cannot* be held across an await point.
-        let mut states = self.inner.states.lock().unwrap();
-        let index = pick(route, primary, &self.inner.zone, &states);
-
-        let id = match index {
-            Some(index) => &route.unwrap().members[index],
-            None => default,
-        };
-
-        let state = match states.get(id) {
-            Some(value) => value.clone(),
-            None => states.entry(id.clone()).or_default().clone(),
-        };
-
-        (index, state)
+        Ok((channel, id.zone == self.inner.zone))
     }
 
     // Identify Channels which have not been used since the preceding sweep, and close them.
@@ -101,32 +73,19 @@ impl Router {
     pub fn sweep(&self) {
         let mut states = self.inner.states.lock().unwrap();
 
-        states.retain(|id, state| {
-            // Retain entries which are currently connecting.
-            let Some(mut state) = state.try_lock() else {
-                return true;
-            };
-            // Drop entries which are not connected.
-            let Some((_client, uses)) = &mut *state else {
-                return false;
-            };
+        states.retain(|id, (_channel, mark)| {
             // Drop entries which have not been used since the last sweep.
-            if *uses == 0 {
+            if !*mark {
                 tracing::debug!(?id, "dropping idle member connection");
                 return false;
             }
-            *uses = 0; // Mark for next sweep.
+            *mark = false; // Mark for next sweep.
             true
         });
     }
 }
 
-fn pick(
-    route: Option<&broker::Route>,
-    primary: bool,
-    zone: &str,
-    states: &HashMap<MemberId, DialState>,
-) -> Option<usize> {
+fn pick(route: Option<&broker::Route>, primary: bool, zone: &str) -> Option<usize> {
     let default_route = broker::Route::default();
     let route = route.unwrap_or(&default_route);
 
@@ -136,28 +95,14 @@ fn pick(
         .zip(route.endpoints.iter())
         .enumerate()
         .max_by_key(|(index, (id, _endpoint))| {
-            let connected = if let Some(state) = states.get(id) {
-                if let Some(state) = state.try_lock() {
-                    if let Some(_conn) = state.as_ref() {
-                        true // Transport is ready.
-                    } else {
-                        false // Transport is not ready and no task is starting it.
-                    }
-                } else {
-                    true // Another task has started this transport.
-                }
-            } else {
-                false // Transport has not been started.
-            };
-
             // Member selection criteria:
             (
                 // If we want the primary, then prefer the primary.
                 primary && *index as i32 == route.primary,
                 // Prefer members in our same zone.
                 zone == id.zone,
-                // Prefer members which are already connected.
-                connected,
+                // Randomize over members to balance load.
+                rand::random::<u8>(),
             )
         })
         .map(|(index, _)| index)
diff --git a/crates/gazette/src/shard/mod.rs b/crates/gazette/src/shard/mod.rs
index aa54058f77..1cb1df43f8 100644
--- a/crates/gazette/src/shard/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/gazette/src/shard/mod.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ impl Client {
         &self,
         req: consumer::ListRequest,
     ) -> Result<consumer::ListResponse, crate::Error> {
-        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default).await?);
+        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default)?);
 
         let resp = client
             .list(req)
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ impl Client {
         &self,
         req: consumer::ApplyRequest,
     ) -> Result<consumer::ApplyResponse, crate::Error> {
-        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default).await?);
+        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default)?);
 
         let resp = client
             .apply(req)
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ impl Client {
         &self,
         req: consumer::UnassignRequest,
     ) -> Result<consumer::UnassignResponse, crate::Error> {
-        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default).await?);
+        let mut client = self.into_sub(self.router.route(None, false, &self.default)?);
 
         let resp = client
             .unassign(req)
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ impl Client {
         check_ok(resp.status(), resp)
     }
 
-    fn into_sub(&self, channel: Channel) -> SubClient {
+    fn into_sub(&self, (channel, _local): (Channel, bool)) -> SubClient {
         proto_grpc::consumer::shard_client::ShardClient::with_interceptor(
             channel,
             self.metadata.clone(),