The Transportation Department says the government's road-paving crew is charging $9,000 more per kilometre than the private sector. (CBC)

Nova Scotia's Transportation Department says the government's road-paving crew is charging $9,000 more per kilometre than the private sector.

But acting deputy minister Jane Fraser said the province's return to the paving business last year resulted in lower tender prices from private contractors — and that's what the government wanted.

Fraser told a legislature committee on Wednesday that private contractors cut the average price of double chip seal by more than half, to $40,000 per kilometre.

In comparison, she said the average cost per kilometre for the 26-member government crew was $49,000 when the costs for labour, materials and equipment are factored in.

Liberal committee member Andrew Younger said the higher costs for the province's crew contradict the government's assertion that it can run a cost-effective operation.

Fraser said the government has never claimed to pave roads cheaper than the private sector.

She said the government saved $2.2 million last year because of the change.