A method and apparatus for balancing multipoint Radio Access Network traffic to mitigate backhaul congestion is provided. Schedulers communicate with a Traffic Engineering (TE) controller either directly or via a Virtual Link Monitor. The schedulers receive indications of data rate upper limits for virtual links overlaid onto the backhaul network, and schedule mobile device communications such that the data rate upper limits are respected. The Virtual Link Monitors maintain indications of current loading of the virtual links and provide the schedulers with operational information based on same. Scheduling is performed in view of the operational information. The Virtual Link Monitors also provide the TE controller with indications of service requirements for the virtual links, so that the TE controller can reconfigure the virtual links based on same.