A first network element (NE) comprises a receiver configured to receive a tunnel redirection request message from a second NE, wherein the tunnel redirection request message is a request to re-route packets to a third NE instead of the second NE, wherein the tunnel redirection request message comprises an address of the third NE and a first destination address, wherein the packets comprise the first destination address. A processor of the NE is coupled to the receiver and configured to add an outer header and an encapsulation header to a first subset of the packets, wherein the outer header comprises the address of the third NE, and wherein the encapsulation header comprises an identifier of an encapsulation protocol supported by the third NE, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the first subset of the packets to the third NE via an overlay tunnel, and transmit a second subset of packets to the second NE.