The present invention is directed to a clip connector for joining steel ribs together end to end to provide a support for lateral wood or steel beams used to line a tunnel. The clip connector has a generally C shaped cross section with a web section having a width approximately equal to the width of the flange of the steel rib and a length and shape sufficient to overlap the ends of the joined steel ribs. The clip has flanges extending from either side of the web to wrap around the flange of steel ribs and contain the flange of the steel rib.