A network includes multiple routing arcs for routing network traffic to a destination. Each arc comprising nodes connected in sequence by reversible links oriented away from a node initially holding a cursor toward one of first and second edge nodes through which the network traffic exits the arc. Each node includes a network device. The nodes in the arc detect a first failure in the arc. Responsive to the detecting the first failure, the nodes exchange first management frames over a data plane within the arc in order to transfer the cursor from the node initially holding the cursor to a first node proximate the first failure and reverse links in the arc as appropriate so that the network traffic in the arc is directed away from the first failure toward the first edge node of the arc through which the network traffic is able to exit the arc.