When the brakes are cabled, the front brake cable will turn down toward the fork crown, while the rear brake cable will curve forward and back around to the top tube. The cables will not be mirror imaged as they are now. So you won't have the same issue.

I would actually mount the cross levers closer to the stem. That's personal preference. You do need to avoid the tapered part of the bar.

Are you using canti brakes? Don't you need a brake hanger (cable stop)?