A method provides for the dynamic traffic prioritization in a communication network. The method electronically monitors traffic in a communication network and determines when traffic exceeds configured thresholds on the links of the communication network. Thus, the method determines a link which is potentially about to be congested in the communication network. The method categorizes the traffic on this link by an end system attached to one end of the potentially congested link into a plurality of priority categories using application layer parameters. Using a re-direct capability of the end system, the method re-directs at least one of the pluralities of priority categories of traffic to an alternate Internet Protocol address. The method uses preconfigured Quality of Service mechanisms on the provider edge router attached to the other end of the potentially congested link to guarantee a predetermined amount of bandwidth capacity of the link to traffic destined to the alternate Internet Protocol address.