Route 66 Rework Expands Across Arizona and New Mexico
The 1.58 update for American Truck Simulator introduces the Route 66 Rework Project, a focused rebuild of older map sections in Northern Arizona and parts of New Mexico. The project revisits stretches of Interstate 40 and Historic Route 66 that were originally created under earlier technical limitations and updates them to match current design standards.
This phase concentrates on improving road layouts, refining terrain, and rebuilding city environments. The goal is consistency. As newer DLC regions raised the overall visual and structural quality of the map, earlier areas began to feel outdated. The rework brings these sections in line with the rest of the game without changing the scale or overall geography.
Northern Arizona updates
Several Arizona cities have been rebuilt from the ground up. Kingman, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon Village, Page, Kayenta, Camp Verde, and Show Low now feature revised street networks, updated industries, and expanded surrounding detail. Highway interchanges have been adjusted to improve traffic flow, and rural stretches between cities include more varied scenery and roadside assets.
Lake Havasu City joins the map as a new location along AZ 95 near the Colorado River. Its inclusion expands delivery routes in the region and adds a recognizable landmark stop. The city replaces Holbrook with a new layout centered around Winslow, which has been introduced as part of the restructuring effort.
New Mexico rework
In New Mexico, Gallup, Albuquerque, and Tucumcari have received full rebuilds. Industrial zones have been expanded, signage has been updated, and city entrances have been redesigned to better reflect real world routing. Desert terrain and rock formations along the Route 66 corridor have been reshaped to improve visual accuracy and driving continuity.
Well known landmarks such as the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, and Monument Valley have also been refreshed. These locations remain in their established positions but now feature improved terrain detail and environmental adjustments.
Interestingly, the attention to road detail and vehicle handling in updates like this highlights how driving focused games continue to evolve, something many players are also watching closely with Grand Theft Auto VI. While the two titles approach vehicles very differently, discussions around GTA 6 Vehicles often revolve around realism, variety, and world interaction, similar themes that matter when rebuilding long highway stretches in a simulation setting.
A broader map upgrade effort
The Route 66 Rework Project forms part of a larger plan to modernize early map content. Rather than adding new states, this update focuses on strengthening the foundation of existing regions. For players hauling freight across Arizona and New Mexico, the result is a smoother, more coherent drive along one of the most recognizable highways in the game.
