U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says there is a bipartisan compromise to end the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency that oversees the nation's airlines and air safety.

In a statement Thursday, Reid did not specify details of the compromise.

Congressional sources say they expect the Senate on Friday to accept a compromise measure passed by the House of Representatives.

The compromise will allow some 70,000 construction workers and about 4,000 government workers to return to work. They had been furloughed during an FAA shutdown that has lasted nearly two weeks.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Barrack Obama urged Congress to approve legislation that would fund the Federal Aviation Administration. Mr. Obama said he made calls to key congressional leaders, urging them to approve the bill.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the shutdown halted $11 billion worth of airport expansion projects.

The partial shutdown, which started July 23, blocked the government from collecting taxes on airline tickets, often about $25 on a $300 round-trip flight. It's cost the government roughly $30 million per day in lost revenue.