A method begins with a set of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) receiving a plurality of read requests for encoded data slices corresponding to particular content data. The method continues with a first storage unit detecting that a corresponding portion of the plurality of read requests exceeds a heavy load condition for the first storage unit. The method continues when the corresponding portion of the plurality of read requests exceeds the heavy load condition for the first storage unit with the first storage unit identifying a first alternative storage unit of the DSN. The method continues with the first storage unit sending a copy of the first group of encoded data slices to the first alternative storage unit and redirecting some of the corresponding portion of the plurality of read requests to the first alternative storage unit for processing.