Java - Declared string

im trying to test a Java connection with ODB, but im having troubles, java is showing me like if i dont have declare the variable "ruta"

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package conexion;
import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.DriverManager;
import java.sql.SQLException;
import java.sql.Statement;

/**
 *
 * @author cr4id3r
 */
public class connect {
    private Connection conexion;
    public Statement sentencia;

    public void conectarBasedeDatos(){
        try{
            final String CONTROLADOR = "sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver";
            Class.forName( CONTROLADOR );
            final String rutas = "jdbc:odbc:Driver={Microsoft Acces Driver(*.mdb)};DBQ="+
                    System.getProperty("user_dir")+"/db/base.odb";
            conexion = DriverManager.getConnection(rutas);
            sentencia = conexion.createStatement();
        }

        catch(ClassNotFoundException ex1){
        ex1.printStackTrace();
        javax.swing.JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Error en creacion de statement");
        System.exit(1);
        }
    }
}

Anyone know why it is? Thanks :)