C20 extra bracing really now needed?

[D-n-Tyke]

I am looking at how to tuck the exhaust up into the frame. I see alot of people cut holes in their trailing arm crossmembers to allow routing the pupes thru the crossmember. My problem is my crossmember has additional bracing infront of it, right where the tubes would run. Since this is going to be a cruiser and not pulling any heavy loads I am wondering if I can cut it out with out any real consequences. (Rear end has also already been changed out to a 12 bolt while converting to 5-lug.

This is the brace I am talking about.