I don't think you'd find many people willing to admit that it's safe to ride on the sidewalks at faster than, say, 10 mph. At that rate, your round trip commute is looking over 3 hours.

Note that the issue isn't damage to the bike, it's damage to you and to others using the sidewalk. The big problem to you is going to be at intersections - cars do not expect vehicles in the crosswalk, and they won't see you. People get hit like that all the time. The most dangerous part is when you're on the sidewalk, passing a line of stopped cars in the road, and a car turns right - since you're moving faster than he is, the car turning right has never seen you, so doesn't know you're there. He turns right, and you slam into his door. Not fun.

As tarwheel says, there are times where it makes sense, generally when you go fairly slow in areas where there aren't any pedestrians, when the alternative is more dangerous. If you do it, keep it slow, and go very slow (and preferably walk the bike) at intersections.

But for 16 miles, one way? I don't think it's a really good idea.