A battery pack venting assembly includes a first beam establishing a first side of a passageway and a second beam establishing an opposite, second side of the passageway. The passageway is configured to communicate battery cell vent byproducts. A method of establishing a vent path within a traction battery pack includes, within an enclosure assembly of a battery pack, providing a cross-member assembly having a first beam and a second beam; and communicating battery cell vent byproducts through at least one opening in the first beam into a passageway having a perimeter that is at least partially provided by the first beam and the second beam.