A lifting apparatus for lifting a manhole cover includes a first frame section with a first end assembly that supports a hook to engage a lifting block on a manhole cover, and a second frame section with a second end assembly that supports a hook to engage a lifting block on the manhole cover. At least one of the first and second end assemblies is movable, via an actuator, with respect to the other to change a distance between hooks. The hooks are movable in a way that the hooks engage with the lifting blocks on an adjacent manhole cover. The first frame section is coupled to the second frame section during a lifting operation, and the first and second frame sections are selectively detachable from one another when not in use.