A deal to end the two-week partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) should mean that construction of Duluth International Airport's new terminal will stay on track for completion next year.

The shutdown idled 74,000 federal employees and construction workers nationwide and cost the government about $30 million a day in uncollected airline ticket taxes.

The shutdown, which ended Aug. 5 with a Senate vote on a temporary spending measure, had threatened the construction schedule of the new Duluth terminal, dimming hopes of its opening on time in 2012. As action in the nation's capital was looming, Brian Ryks, the Duluth airport's executive director, said that as long as Congress acted soon the schedule could be saved.

Federal reimbursements have continued for work already in progress, but bids for remaining work couldn't be acted on without additional federal grant money the project had coming,

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., said he was relieved a short-term deal to end the FAA shutdown had been reached.

"This means that important construction projects like the new Duluth Airport Terminal won't be delayed unnecessarily," he said in a statement. "We still haven't resolved the underlying disagreement over the Essential Air Service, which is critical to communities like Brainerd, Bemidji, Hibbing, International Falls and Thief River Falls. I will continue fighting to protect this program in the long-term FAA authorization."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., issued a similar statement, saying the Duluth terminal is important because it will allow more flights in and out of the airport, vital for business growth in the region.

Republicans had insisted on the subsidy cuts as their price for restoring the FAA to full operation. But the cuts may become moot.

The bill included language that gives the transportation secretary the authority to continue subsidized service to the 13 communities if he decides it's necessary. Communities targeted for the proposed air service subsidy cuts are Morgantown, W.Va.; Athens, Ga.; Glendive, Mont.; Alamogordo, N.M.; Ely, Nev.; Jamestown, N.Y.; Bradford, Pa.; Hagerstown, Md.; Jonesboro, Ark.; Johnstown, Pa.; Franklin/Oil City, Pa.; Lancaster, Pa.; and Jackson, Tenn.

The passage of the FAA funding bill this month marked the 21st time current funding has been extended since the last long-term FAA authorization expired in 2007.

Unless Congress can agree on long-term bills passed earlier this year by the House and Senate, the prospect of extending funding for the 22nd time will arrive Sept. 16.

The Washington Post contributed to this report.