position is illustrated in fig4 in phantom it should be appreciated that while the embodiments illustrated herein show the side bars 14 15 as being arranged substantially perpendicular when in the deployed position the side bars 14 15 may also be arranged on an angle relative to the center bar 13 to accommodate obstructions or other surface irregularities a ladder support arrangement is provided whereby a ladder can be inserted within a manhole with part of the support extending from the manhole to the adjoining sidewalk or other adjacent surface the ladder is held in contact with the support by capturing a ladder rung within a pair of u shaped supports formed in the top of the support embodiments of the invention provide advantages in increasing the amount of space available for service personnel to enter and exit the entrance to an underground structure embodiments of the invention further provide advantages in increasing the stability of the ladder during use to facilitate the entry and exit of service personnel from underground chambers embodiments of the invention provide yet further advantages in being easily configured for transportation and deployment while the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments rather the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations alterations substitutions.