Construction is achieved wherein the front-end section of an outer column 18a is assembled in the rear-end section of a housing 11a that houses an electric power steering apparatus 10a from below. A block shaped connection and fastening section 36 is provided on the rear-end section of the housing 11a. A pair of slits 37 is formed in portions of the connection and fastening section 36 near the left and right ends, and are open on the bottom end surface and rear end surface of the connection and fastening section 36. At least the front-end section of the outer column 18a has a pair of side plate sections 30 and a bottom plate section 31 that is formed in a U shape that is open at the top. The side plate sections 30 are inserted inside the slits 37 from below. In this state, the connection and fastening section 36 and the front-end section of the outer column 18a are connected and fastened by a bolt 39.